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Cambodia’s Judicial System Plagued by Corruption and Inefficiency

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia’s judicial system has been criticized for its numerous shortcomings, including corruption, lack of access to information on legal rights, weak regulatory enforcement, and a lack of civil justice.

Corruption within the Judiciary

A recent report highlights the widespread corruption within the judiciary, with judges often facilitating unlawful charges against activists and journalists on behalf of the ruling party. The detention system is also plagued by overcrowding and underfunding, with thousands of Cambodians detained without trial in so-called drug rehabilitation centers.

Challenges in Law Enforcement

The law enforcement system in Cambodia is struggling, with the Gendarmerie and Cambodian National Police (CNP) plagued by understaffing, undertraining, and underequipping. The patronage system, which requires police officials to pay a proportion of their salary to their superiors, has led to greater corruption and less time spent tackling organized crime.

Border Security Concerns

Cambodia’s porous border with Vietnam and Thailand has made it a key transit zone for drug and human trafficking. Despite efforts to improve cross-border cooperation and enhance border security, Cambodian authorities struggle to stop the activity of organized crime and trafficking groups in and around border areas due to poor facilities, insufficient specialized knowledge, and limited budgets.

Economic and Financial Environment

Cambodia is ranked as having one of the highest risks for money laundering and terrorist financing worldwide. The country’s weak anti-money laundering regime, cash-based economy, porous borders, and limited capacity to oversee the fast-growing financial and banking industries have all contributed to this ranking.

Casinos in Cambodia offer highly favorable tax rates, which encourages money laundering due to corrupt relationships between officials and casino owners.
Illicit trafficking activities such as human, wildlife, drug, and timber trafficking are linked to money laundering.

Cambodia lacks support mechanisms for trafficking victims, with authorities continuously failing to identify and protect victims among vulnerable populations. The country also lacks a national strategy to prevent and tackle organized crime in its complexity.

The legal environment for civil society organizations has deteriorated, with increased harassment of journalists, human rights defenders, and trade unions.
The government has banned journalists from filming, recording, and live-streaming active police investigations of criminal activities, as well as identifying suspects or their location.

Call for Reform

The Cambodian government has been urged to address these issues and reform its judicial system, law enforcement agencies, and economic and financial environment. The country’s citizens deserve a fair and transparent justice system that upholds their rights and protects them from corruption and crime.