Interior Ministry to reshuffle its police department

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

According to reliable sources, Interior Ministry will next week begin a reshuffle of chiefs of its police departments.

The reshuffle seem to be in response to an increase in spates of violent robberies in Phnom Penh in recent weeks.

The sources said that Gen. Mok Chito, head of Criminal Police, will be moved to head the Central Directorate of Justice in place of Gen. Ek Vannoy who has been retired. Mr. In Bora, current Deputy Head of Criminal Police, will be promoted to head of that department in place of Gen. Mok Chito.

The same sources said that Maj-Gen. Thorng Lim, head of Immigration Department, will be moved to head the Central Directorate of Security and Mr. Pin Pisith, head of Central Directorate of Security will be moved to take Maj-Gen. Thorng Lim's position as head of the Immigration Department.

Three departmental deputy chiefs will also be promoted to the position of departmental chiefs. They are Gen. Kun Sam Oeun, Gen. Dam Vuthy and Gen. Yun Chhunny.

However, Mr. Keat Chantharith, police spokesman, said he does not know about any plans for the reshuffle in the police departments. And Gen. Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, declined to comment by only saying that "I'm feeling unwell today" when contacted by telephone.

Mr. Ou Virak (pictured), president of Cambodian Centre of Human Rights, said the reshuffle is a good thing so as not to allow any particular chiefs to have a free rein in their departments. However, he disagrees with more promotions as he thinks they are a waste of national resources.

Currently, the police departments have already six departmental chiefs. They are Gen. Mao Chandara, Gen. Sam Phal, Gen. Korng Sakhorn, Gen, Sim Sophal, Gen. So Phorn and Gen. Ean Sarob. With the three new promotions above, the departmental chiefs in the police departments have increased to nine.