Cambodia: City Councilor and Police Officers Accused Online in Personal Loan Dispute

In Cambodia, a city councilor and four Siem Reap provincial police officers have been accused on social media by a woman over unpaid personal loans. The accusation was posted on July 23 by a Facebook user named "SokChea," who shared photos of one city councilor and four Siem Reap provincial police officers with the caption, "To those who took cards as collateral and borrowed money from me, please resolve this. I have waited for a long time." In response, the Siem Reap Provincial Police issued a statement on July 25 to clarify the situation. The police department stated that the case is a private dispute between individuals regarding personal loans and has no connection to the police organization. The statement emphasized that police identification cards, insignia, uniforms, and other official documents are solely for verifying the identity of police officers and for official duties. They cannot be used for private transactions. The police urged the public not to let this issue negatively impact the reputation and morale of the entire police force, which is diligently serving the citizens. Furthermore, Major General Hout Sothy, the Provincial Police Commissioner, encouraged the creditor to resolve the issue with the debtors through legal channels. He also stressed that the debtors have a legal obligation to their creditors. He pointed out that disseminating information on social media could potentially harm public sentiment towards the police. The police department reiterated its firm policy against police officers using their official identification or affiliation for personal gain. It warned that any officer found engaging in such acts would face disciplinary action under the Cambodian National Police regulations. The police also expressed regret that the creditor accepted police identification cards as collateral, deeming it an illegal act. Source: CEN Cambodia