REOPENED CHHAY HOUR II CLOSED; OWNERS RE-ARRESTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000207 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; G/TIP E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017 TAGS: PREL KJUS KCRM KWMN CB SUBJECT: REOPENED CHHAY HOUR II CLOSED; OWNERS RE-ARRESTED REF: 06 PHNOM PENH 344 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Margaret McKean; Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On February 3, the Minister of Justice directed the re-arrest of the owners of the Chhay Hour II. On February 4, the Minister of Interior Sar Kheng shut down the establishment, vowing that it will not re-open. These events followed several interventions by the Ambassador. Press reports indicate that police rescued four women at the Chhay Hour II who claimed to have been coerced into the sex trade; the women reportedly were placed in AFESIP's care, but all have left the NGO. The Ambassador has pressed the RGC for a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the two men's release, and Sar Kheng has reported that a high-level investigation is underway. End Summary. Chhay Hour II Redux -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 1, Embassy poloff and two LES visited the Chhay Hour II site to determine whether the hotel, closed since 2005, had reopened for business. On entering the establishment (renamed the Leang Hour Hotel and Restaurant), Mission personnel identified the two men, Sam Leng and Te Pao Ly, who had been arrested and convicted in February 2006 (reftel) following a police re-investigation of the Chhay Hour II. Leng entered into conversation with Mission staff, explaining that he had paid a large amount of money to the police (NFI) to be released from prison via a special Appeals Court verdict. He also alleged that their release had been approved by the most senior levels of the government. Mission staff did not identify any possible underage girls working in the hotel during their visit. ¶3. (C) On learning of the Chhay Hour II's status, the Ambassador met the same day with PM advisor Om Yentieng, and expressed the Embassy's serious concern regarding the reopening of the Chhay Hour II, the release of the men imprisoned in 2006, and the allegation by one of those involved that bribery and high-level RGC involvement had led to their release. Om Yentieng noted that he was not aware of the reopening of the Chhay Hour II, but understood USG concerns and the implication for bilateral relations. The PM's advisor spoke with Cambodian National Police (CNP) Commissioner Hok Lundy as well as the PM to alert them to the situation, and promised prompt RGC action. The PM was outraged that he had been implicated by name in the release. An exasperated Om Yentieng complained to the Ambassador that "you foreigners assume that the government controls the courts, which is incorrect -- it's money that controls the courts." ¶4. (C) Given that February 2 was a Cambodian holiday, CNP Commissioner Hok Lundy was out of town, and Deputy Police Commissioner Sok Phal met with the Ambassador and Embassy staff to discuss next steps. Sok Phal indicated that he also was not aware that the Chhay Hour II had reopened, but had been instructed by Hok Lundy to initiate an immediate police investigation. Sok Phal noted that he had met with Om Yentieng on the evening of February 1. He said that Om Yentieng was seeking to file a complaint with the Supreme Council of the Magistracy regarding the alleged Appeals Court decision that released the two men. In addition, the police were in the process of collecting the documents pertaining to the reopening and renaming of the Chhay Hour II, and the CNP was beginning an investigation into the new business. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador stressed that the police must/must address the bribery accusation and the possible involvement of senior RGC officials in the release of the two men. Sok Phal indicated that he understood the Ambassador's concerns, and urged the Ambassador to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng on the DPM's return from Battambang over the weekend. MOI/MOJ Meeting: Best Bilateral Relations Ever Threatened -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) On February 3, the Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief met with DPM Sar Kheng, Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vatthana, Deputy CNP Commissioner Sok Phal, and several of Sar Kheng's advisors and staff members. Sar Kheng registered his displeasure over the news regarding the Chhay Hour II and confirmed that the RGC was moving forward on the investigation of the hotel. He assured us that the RGC's position remains the same -- the government means to implement the law and suppress trafficking in persons. He underscored the potentially serious negative impact trafficking has, in what he characterized as the "best bilateral relationship between Cambodia and the United States PHNOM PENH 00000207 002 OF 002 ever." He and Sok Phal had discussed the issue and tasked a special group of police officers to work on the case. In response to the Ambassador's question, Sar Kheng affirmed that the RGC was also looking into how the Appeals Court came to a decision to release the two men. The Ambassador underscored USG concern over the release and the allegation by one of the men that payment to RGC official(s) had led to their release. The Ambassador recalled discussions regarding Chhay Hour II in mid-2006 with the PM, who had acknowledged that the two men were trying at that time to bribe their way out of prison. Sar Kheng assured the Ambassador that the RGC was also examining the judicial actions that led to the release. The Ambassador noted that the RGC ought to be less concerned with those who criticize the government for being corrupt and far more concerned with those -- like the owners of the Chhay Hour II -- who praised the government for being corrupt. Three Men Arrested; Four Women Rescued -------------- ¶7. (U) Later on February 3, police officials informed the Embassy that they had taken the two men back into custody following a police raid on the hotel, and the MOI issued a press release on February 4 announcing the re-arrest of both men as well as a third individual (Em Mardy) who worked at the hotel. Press reports indicate that four women at the hotel claimed to have been coerced into providing sexual services and the police turned them over to AFESIP's care. AFESIP on February 5 told us that the women did not want to stay at the shelter, and asked to leave with family members who visited the AFESIP shelter to visit the women. AFESIP discussed the matter with the MOI, noting that the women had requested permission to leave. After consulting with the MOI, AFESIP granted their request on the guarantee by their family members that the women would appear in court when requested. According to AFESIP, the women all claimed to be 20 years of age, but two of them reportedly appeared to be 16 or 17. AFESIP could not comment as to whether the women were trafficking victims or voluntary sex workers as there was not enough time for proper interviews and screening. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The CNP has re-arrested the men who left prison and the hotel has been shuttered once again. Nevertheless, we have made clear to all senior officials that the RGC must address the issue of how the two individuals were able to leave Prey Sar prison in the first place. We note that prison authorities were aware of the importance of both men; Te Pao Ly occupied a cell with only 4 other individuals (normal occupancy was 15-20 per room),and had special visitation privileges from family members. It seems unlikely that his departure would have escaped the notice of senior prison officials, and that they in turn would have neglected to notify more senior members of the CNP. The Embassy will maintain pressure on the RGC to fully investigate the bribery allegation and the Appeals Court decision, and continue to monitor the Chhay Hour II site for any signs of further business. We will also use these developments to remind the RGC that their Tier 2 Watchlist status is undergoing review and predicated on the need for tangible and systemic improvements. From other sources, it appears that the highest levels of the government were not involved in this incident and there are some senior officials -- such as the Ministers of Interior and Justice -- who are ardently committed to stamping out trafficking. However, more work needs to be done and we will press the RGC to identify and punish those who were responsible for the release of the two men. End Comment. MUSSOMELI