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Cambodian authorities arrest close aide of ousted capital court chief

Xinhua, February 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodia's Military Police has arrested a military general and close aide of former Phnom Penh Municipal Court director Aing Mealdey who was removed from his position Wednesday following alleged corruption.

The arrest was made on Thursday night.

"The Takeo provincial military police arrested Pich Prum Mony,a brigadier general and deputy chief of staff at the Royal Cambodian Army, at a pagoda while he was praying," Kheng Tito, spokesman for the National Military Police, told Xinhua on Friday,adding that the arrest was made following an arrest warrant issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. "He is a close person to the ousted chief judge (Aing Mealdey)," he said. "He is accused of obstructing the work of public officials and using the car's number plate of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces illegally."

He said Pich Prum Mony was brought to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court Thursday night for questioning.

Aing Mealdey was officially removed from his position on Wednesday, a day after Prime Minister Hun Sen requested the Supreme Council of Magistracy to look into the court for irregularly releasing the parents of fugitive tycoon Thong Sarath, who is wanted for masterminding the murder of businessman Ing Meng Chue in November.

The premier said a court judge ordered the release of the couple irregularly-possibly in exchange of 5 million U.S. dollars bribe.

According to Kheng Tito, the arrest of Pich Prum Mony was also related to the release of parents of fugitive tycoon Thong Sarath.

Aing Mealdey requested in July that Pich Prum Mony help provide security and public order at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, according to a letter that he sent to General Meas Sophea, commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.

The court freed fugitive tycoon Thong Sarath's parents on bail on Feb. 7 and the authorities arrested them back in prison on Sunday while they attempted to flee into Vietnam.

The couple were charged with illegally possessing 8 guns, which were seized from their villas in December while the police hunted for their son, Thong Sarath, who is suspected of being the mastermind behind the murder of diamond and construction tycoon Ing Meng Chue on Nov. 22.

Thong Sarath is still at large as five of his bodyguards are being held in prison. Endi