PHNOM PENH: A former customs and excise official was convicted yesterday of extortion and was sentenced to two years in prison, with one year suspended.
Ung Chea Veng, 42, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in July in front of a hotel in Phnom Penh after ACU officials discovered he had been extorting money from several registered companies.
The former director of the non-garment investment office and assistant to the director general of the Customs and Excise office was detained after several companies complained.
He was charged with misappropriation of public funds under article 32 of the Anti-Corruption Law and articles 592 and 593 of the Criminal Code.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Kor Vandy fined him eight million riel (about $2,000) and the court ordered him to pay 72,000 riel in damages to the state.
Other illegally obtained money seized from Mr. Chea Veng by the ACU was ordered to be confiscated and put towards the national budget.
