Cambodia Bar Association Investigates 3 Candidates for Forged Documents

The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of Cambodia has identified three candidates suspected of using forged documents in their applications for the 21st Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia's lawyer qualification exam. This finding was made through the meticulous observation and verification of candidate documents by the ACU working group, which commenced during the application acceptance phase and continued through to the announcement of final results. Mr. Keo Tivuth, Deputy Director of the ACU and jointly responsible for overseeing the observation of the examination, stated that the ACU team participated in supervising the selection process, with a particular focus on verifying the supporting documents of candidates to ensure that applications were submitted in accordance with the established conditions. During the application period from August 3 to September 3, 2026, a total of 661 application forms were purchased, and 574 candidates applied to sit for the exam, with 223 being women, equivalent to 38.85 percent. The Bar Association also decided to extend the sale and acceptance of applications from September 7 to September 25, 2026, to accommodate candidates who missed the initial deadline. Ms. Oun Sitha, Deputy Director of the ACU and leader of the document verification team, clarified that all candidates must fulfill five conditions set by the Bar Association. These include being a Cambodian national, possessing a Bachelor of Laws degree or an equivalent qualification, having no criminal record that affects professional eligibility, not being declared bankrupt by a court, and possessing sufficient morality and physical fitness for the job. Following the verification process, the ACU discovered three candidates who had used forged documents. The ACU will summon these three candidates for clarification to continue the investigation and verification of evidence. If sufficient elements of an offense are found, the unit will build a case file and send it to the court for legal proceedings. The ACU has appealed to all candidates to respect the law and relevant regulations, and to use only genuine documents and accurate information. The ACU warned that forgery or the use of forged documents will be subject to legal measures without exception. Source: CEN Cambodia