The National Election Committee (NEC) will spend about $21 million to construct its new nine-storey headquarters on the land gifted by the government.

The land, situated on Sothearos Street in Tonle Bassac commune of Chamkar Mon district in Phnom Penh, was formerly occupied by Kong Korm, a former senior adviser to the opposition Candlelight Party (CP).

The ground breaking ceremony was presided over by NEC chairman Prach Chan yesterday.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said yesterday that construction will take 22 months to complete.

Puthea said that the new nine-storey NEC headquarters will be built on an area of 32,000 square metres.

He said that it serves as a large workplace and is built in Khmer architectural style, in which the auditorium can accommodate up to 450 attendees and is equipped with LED lights.

“This modern equipment will benefit and give confidence to all political parties, especially the development of technology that the NEC is constantly preparing and using. This increases trust in the electoral sector and gain more supportive participation,” Puthea said.

The property was gifted to the NEC by former Prime Minister Hun Sen last year. It had formerly been occupied by Korm who surrendered the property to the government on January 12, last year.

Mr Hun Sen had alleged that Korm had forged the land title to the property which had belonged to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Korm and his wife Seak Oy decided to return the land and the house to the state after Mr Hun Sen asked the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to investigate whether possession of the property was legal.

Korm and his wife were believed to have taken possession of the property on January 19, 2015.

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