01 September 2006
By Phan Sophat
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy


The ministry of interior and people who are close with the UNHCR said that Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police chief who is accused by the [Cambodian] court of criminal involvements, has been arrested in Singapore.

Khieu Sopheak, the spokesman of the ministry of interior, told RFA on Friday 01 September that Heng Pov was arrested by the Singapore authority stemming from the expiration of his visa, however, Khieu Sopheak cannot tell whether Heng Pov will be sent back to Cambodia or not.

Khieu Sopheak said: “We cannot know because the Singapore authority uses Singapore laws when Heng Pov stays there beyond the extent of his visa. And we do not know what will the Singapore law do.”

A source close to the UNHCR told RFA that it was learnt that Heng Pov was arrested at 8:00 PM on Thursday at a hotel in Singapore when a clerk brought food for him. The clerk was also arrested.

Keo Vanthan, the deputy-director of [the Cambodian] Interpol, told RFA that he cannot comment on this case pending clarifications from the Singapore authority: “I cannot comment, I am waiting for replies from Singapore.”

Nevertheless, Cambodian authority officials said that they are contacting the Singapore police to bring Heng Pov back to Cambodia.

Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police chief and advisor to prime minister Hun Sen, left the country on 23 July, a few days later, a court warrant was issued against him accusing him of involvement in a number of crimes such as the killing of Phnom Penh judge Sok Sethamony, assassination attempts on general Sao Sokha and judge Uk Savuth, as well as a number of other criminal cases.

Following the accusations made by the court, Heng Pov who remained outside of the country, had issued successive statements claiming that the accusations made against him are not true and are of political nature, they are invented to accuse him because he knows too many crimes perpetrated by Cambodian government leaders.

Heng Pov had also applied for political asylum in a number of countries, as well as with the UNHCR. However, nobody knows the fate of Heng Pov up to now.

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