Page 7 - Sam Ath News Today

The government has spent nearly $20 million during the first phase of a three-phase programme to help vulnerable households suffering from inflationary pressures and severe flooding. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation urges officials to strengthen the monitoring of payments and prevent irregularities in releasing assistance during the next two phases.

The amount of drugs seized last year increased by more than 10 tonnes over 2021, a senior National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) official has said, while arrests for drug offences also rose, with more than 1,000 being made.

The Ministry of Justice advises judicial officials, especially judges and prosecutors, to pay close attention to juvenile victims and ensure that the practices they employ in their work are not contrary to the best interests of minors.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has agreed to grant the request that children who are under the age of 5 and are victims of violence or sexual abuse not be required to appear in court to testify as witnesses in their cases, as being in such close proximity to their abusers or having to recount what took place publicly could traumatise them unnecessarily.

Civil society organisations called on the authorities to punish individuals who disguise themselves as environment officials to extort money from residents in Kratie province, saying it would restore the image of the Ministry of Environment and set an example for others.

Chhim Sithor was detained in November after returning from a labor conference in Australia.

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng said the public should not be surprised to see people who had committed minor crimes returning to their communities after their arrests, as the authorities introduce new educational measures to reduce prison overcrowding.

A Cambodian court has handed out jail terms to 36 opposition figures, including exiled leader Sam Rainsy, in the latest mass trial against opponents of strongman ruler Hun Sen, a rights group and a lawyer said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Justice’s working group in charge of legal standards and provision preparation met to review and discuss a draft law on the statute of court clerks, to make enhance the Cambodian judicial system.

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng urged all ministries to test everyone who wishes to work for the state or in the private sector, including students, for drugs, and to reject their applications to work or study if they test positive.