Spokesman for Cambodian capital appointed as ambassador to South Korea

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday appointed Long Dimanche, spokesman for Phnom Penh Municipality, as the country's ambassador to South Korea, replacing Suth Dina, who was arrested earlier this week for corruption charges.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen must take responsibility to implement this royal decree from the day of signature," the king said in the royal decree.

The appointment of Long Dimanche was made after Suth Dina was arrested Monday on charges of embezzlement and abuse of power during his 25 months as the ambassador.

The country's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) announced Thursday that it had concrete evidence to prove that Suth Dina had embezzled 116,995 U.S. dollars from selling visa stickers and withdrew over 180,000 U.S. dollars from the embassy's administrative budget for informal salary expenses.

Also, the controversial ambassador had secretly opened a won-currency bank account under the embassy's name in order to hold compensation paid by the insurance companies for Cambodian migrant workers who died while working in South Korea.

Suth Dina was placed in a pre-trial detention on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison, ACU Chairman Om Yentieng told reporters Thursday. Enditem