Nhim Sokhorn
National Bank of Cambodia

EU Lists Cambodia Among ‘High-Risk’ Nations for Money Laundering

The E.U. has listed Cambodia as one of 12 “high-risk” countries with deficient anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts, but the government on Friday said officials were working hard to get the nation off international watch lists.

People cross the border as security forces monitor at the international border checkpoint at Poipet on November 9, 2019. (Chorn Chanren/VOD)

State of Emergency Law Enacted

A sweeping state of emergency bill, which critics say would hand the government excessive powers during an ill-defined national crisis, was signed into law on Wednesday, an official said.

National Assembly President Heng Samrin gestures at the National Assembly on April 10, 2020, in this photograph posted to his Facebook page.

National Assembly Approves State of Emergency Draft Law

The National Assembly on Friday passed a sweeping state of emergency draft law, which rights advocates say is ripe for abuse, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country has slowly, but steadily risen since last month.

Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks on February 11, 2020, in this photograph posted to his Facebook page.

Any Factory Closures Will Be Due to Coronavirus, Not EBA, PM Says

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday said potential closures of garment factories in coming months would be due to novel coronavirus quarantine measures cutting manufacturers off from Chinese materials suppliers, not the result of the E.U. suspending trade benefits.

Kem Sokha leaves the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 30, 2020. (Ouch Sony/VOD)

Kem Sokha Accused of Underreporting Political Expenses

The reported expenses of on trial opposition leader Kem Sokha’s Human Rights Party fell below the plausible costs of the party’s activities, government lawyers claimed on Thursday, though they did not say what activities were supposedly unaccounted for.