The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged and jailed the former governor of Kep city Kheng Yan.

Plong Sophal, Deputy Prosecutor and also a spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said yesterday that Yan was charged with, “Abuse of Power” under Article 35 of the Law on Anti-Corruption and with “Money Laundering” under Articles 3 and 38 of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Finance.

He added that the accused was sent by the investigating judge for pre-trial detention in Phnom Penh.

Soy Chanvichetr, spokesman at the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), said that Yan was arrested on Thursday in Kep province by the ACU after he was terminated from his position by Prime Minister Hun Manet.

He said that after his arrest, Yan was transferred from Kep province to the ACU Headquarters in Phnom Penh for questioning.

He added that after ACU officials completed their interrogation, Yan was transferred to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to face charges on Saturday.

On Friday, Mr Hun Manet signed a sub-decree removing Yan from his post as Kep city governor due to allegations of corruption.

According to a sub-decree issued Thursday, Yan, 43, who held the rank of a second-class official, and was the Governor of Kep city was terminated from his post.

In the sub-decree, Mr Hun Manet said, “Kheng Yan is terminated from the post of the Governor of Kep City in Kep province.”

The Prime Minister said the decision was based on substantial evidence following an investigation launched by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

If convicted, the former governor faces a prison term of between five and 10 years.

• Tags: Kep City governor