1. Workshop on Financial Investigation of Corruption Offence by UNODC October 17-28, 2022
Phnom Penh: Workshop on Financial Investigation on Corruption Offence was held at the Anti-Corruption Unit led by an expert from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Mr. Chris Douglas as a speaker, and attended by the participants who are the 35 officials in charge of investigation, legal affair, case-handling and management, and the prevention. The purpose of this workshop is not only for money laundering offence investigation, but it is also an important tool for all investigations. This workshop on financial investigations, co-organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Anti-Corruption Unit, was held at the time that Cambodia was implementing the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in order to phase out of the gray list of countries facing money laundering and terrorist financing. This workshop is a great opportunity to enhance knowledge and experience and to equip new techniques in financial investigation, operational planning in the purpose of assets recovery for our target officials. This workshop shall ensure to accelerate the existing knowledge of the officials together with the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop; as well as to enhance and encourage all the work done to fight against corruption.
His Excellency Yentieng Puthirith, Vice President of ACU, Mr. Chris Douglas, UNODC Representative and His Excellency Yonn Sinat, Vice-President of ACU
Mr. Chris Douglas is giving a lecture to the ACU participants
2. ACU hosted the 18th ASEAN-PAC Principals Meeting on 22-23 November 2022
A group of leaders and delegates from the Anti-Corruption Institutions of the 10 ASEAN members countries convened their 18th Principals Meeting, which is the annual meeting held in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. In this meeting, the Anti-Corruption Unit of Cambodia, presided over by KITTI NITTI KOSAL PANDITA Senior Minister OM YENTIENG, took over the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN-PAC from the Brunei Darussalam Anti-Corruption Bureau from November 2022 to November 2023. The three most important ASEAN-PAC documents were discussed and adopted at the 18th ASEAN-PAC Principals Meeting. The ASEAN-PAC MOU, the Charter of the ASEAN-PAC, were unanimously revised and signed by the 10 Anti-Corruption agencies in Phnom Penh at the same time. In addition to the events mentioned above; the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Cambodia and Thailand and between Cambodia and Myanmar were respectively signed as well. The other two adopted documents were the Terms of Reference (TOR), a document constituting the work of the ASEAN-PAC, and the ASEAN-PAC three-year Action Plan 2023-2025, prepared by the Anti-Corruption Unit of Cambodia. The fourth document was also discussed, the ASEAN-PAC E-Booklet, which was initiated by the Cambodia Anti-Corruption Unit and it is expected to be adopted at the next meeting. In addition to this meeting, ACU also organized an excursioon for the 09 Anti-Corruption Agencies to visit the National Museum, Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot and the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Leaders from Anti-Corruption Agencies of the 10 ASEAN Countries
Signing Ceremony of the ASEAN-PAC Memorandum of Understanding
Delegates to the 18th ASEAN-PAC Principals Meeting of the 10 Countries
Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Anti-Corruption Unit of Cambodia and Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar
Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Anti-Corruption Unit of Cambodia and National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand
3. World Justice Forum 2022 via Online on May 30 – June 3, 2022
ACU delegation attended the World Justice Forum in 2022 and related events via online from the Hague, Netherland. The forum had 500 participants from many countries around the world (the forum was done either via in-person and online mode) and the speakers from both the public and private sectors, international and civil society organizations. The forum discussed and shared experiences on topics such as basic justice from the people, inclusion of ethnics and marginalized groups, data using for right targeted, digitalization in justice, the importance of inter-agency or inter-ministerial collaboration of the government, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Participants and speakers from the public sector, the private sector, international organizations and civil society organizations
4.Workshop organized by the Network Corruption Prevention Authority (NCPA) on 15 June 2022
Delegation of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) led by H.E Mr. Chea Sam Ath, Director General of Operations of the Anti-Corruption Unit, accompanied by six members, attended a workshop organized by the Network Corruption Prevention Authority (NCPA) via online hosted from Athens, Greece.
This webinar was hosted by the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authority (IAACA), which is the association of anti-corruption agencies from around the world to help build anti-corruption capacity of its members. In the name of the NCPA President who is also a member of the IAACA Executive Committee, the IAACA Secretariat encourages its members in which ACU is also one of the members of this association, to attend the above workshop. The workshop was designed to bring together members to exchange views on the ultimate challenges and best practices in the development of standards, and procedures for effective whistleblower protection and to share experiences in regulating the framework for the whistleblower protection and the process of development and implementation of the whistleblower protection.
Delegation led by H.E. Chea Sam Ath, Director General of the General Department of Operations of the ACU
Speakers invited by NCPA and delegates from NCPA member countries and stakeholders, as well as ACU in the
5.18th ASEAN-PAC Secretariat Meeting on 13 September 2022
His Excellency, Dr. Orn Panhha, representative of the ACU and members of the delegation attended the ASEAN-PAC Secretariat Meeting, hosted and chaired by the Brunei via online. The ASEAN-PAC Secretariat Meeting is a forum for each member to continue discussing matters related to the functioning of the ASEAN-PAC and key agendas in the preparation for the 18th ASEAN-PAC Principals Meeting where Cambodia was going to be the host and to be the chair in November 2022.
ACU delegation led by H.E Dr. Orn Panhha and members of the degelation
6. The G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group’s (G20 ACWG) Meeting
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the Kingdom of Cambodia was invited to attend the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting (G20 ACWG) as the guest of honor on behalf the anti-corruption agency of the ASEAN Chair 2022. ACU has been invited to this meeting for 3 times. The first meeting was held via online from 28 to 31 March, 2022 from Jakarta, Indonesia, focusing on the public and private sectors, especially education and the role of auditing and corruption-prone sectors, such as Sports sector and Customs sector. The second meeting, held from 5 to 8 July 2022, was orgaized in person in Bali, Indonesia, accompanied by separate workshops on public participation and anti-corruption education.The third meeting was held online from Jakarta, Indonesia from 26-29 September 2022, in which the same themes at the first meeting were presented this time.
ACU delegation to the first meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (G20 ACWG) via online
ACU delegation at the second meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (G20 ACWG) in Bali, Indonesia
ACU delegation at the third meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (G20 ACWG) via online
7. Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption on the achievements of the political declaration adopted by the Special Session of the General Assembly (UNGASS) Against Corruption on 05-08 September 2022, the second session of the 13th session of the UNCAC Review Group from 9-10 September 2022 in Vienna, Austria
ACU delegation led by Ms. Ou Sitha and delegation members
8.12th General Meeting of International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) via Online from Hong Kong, December 08, 2022
ACU Delegation led by H.E. Yentieng Puthirith, Vice-President of ACU in the meeting
9. The 9th APG Meeting (Face to Face Meeting-F2F) in Sydney, Australia on 29 April 2022
ACU delegation led by H.E. Kheang Seng, Vice-President of ACU (Middle)
10. The 6th Meeting of the Entities Associate with ASEAN in Jakarta, Indonesia on 25 November 2022
ACU Delegation led by H.E. Yonn Sinat, Vice-President of ACU and other participants in the 6th Meeting of the Entities Associate with ASEAN
11. ACU participation in the Capacity Training Program (ASEAN-PAC) of ASEAN Parties Against Corruption (ASEAN-PAC) on March 01-03, 2022 via online
ACU trainees led by H.E. Nuon Sothimon, Assistant to the ACU
From March 1 to 3, 2022 (divided into three sessions), the delegation of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) led by HE Nuon Sothimon, Assistant to the ACU, accompanied by 3 members, participating in the capacity training program of ASEAN Parties Against Corrption (ASEAN-PAC).
The workshop was co-organized by the Brunei Darussalam Anti-Corruption Bureau under the chairmanship of ASEAN-PAC and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (UKNCA), with the participation from the 10 ASEAN-PAC members countries, with the participation from competent speakers qualified in anti-corruption work from the International Center for the Coordination of Anti-Corruption (IACCC), Interpol Corruption Unit, the Basel Institute International Center for Asset Recovery and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC GlobE Network). The main purpose of this program is to strengthen and expand the capacity of law enforcement officers for ASEAN member countries through the presentation of knowledgeable and experienced professionals.
This important workshop also provided a forum for the IACCC, Interpol Corruption Unit, the International Standards Institute for Criminal Procedure, and Basel Institute International Center for Asset Recovery (ICAR) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC GlobE Network) to share their history, mission and experience, and its involvement in the fight against corruption, which provides additional insights to all participants on the development of anti-corruption campaigns around the world.
12. Education and Dissemination of ACU Cambodia in 2022
12.1. Dissemination of the Anti-Corruption Law (ACL)
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has disseminated the Anti-Corruption Law to the Ministry of Interior, General Department of Taxation, General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Anti-Fraud of the Ministry of Commerce, Royal Academy of Judicial Professions, Forestry Administration Center, and Lawyer Training Center in total of 17 sessions, attended by a total of 1,886 participants. In addition to those activities of law dissemination, the Unit also distributed series of posters on legal standard documents, posters, educational materias aiming to further promote the participation of the public in the fight against corruption.
“Law on Anti-Corruption” lectured by KITTI NITTI KOSAL PANDITA OM YENTIENG, Senior Minister, President of ACU for the trainees of the 12th Batch of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia
12.2. National-International Anti-Corruption Day, 2022
ACU organized the concert to congratulate and mark the celebration of the “National-International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December”. This event was also held to celebrate ad congratulate Cambodia to be the host and as the Chair of the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption, 2022-2023 and to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corrption at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The event was also held to convey the anti-corruption related message in the occasion of the celebration of the “National-International Anti-Corruption Day 9th December ” within 8 public places and town centers, 3 private schools and 3 universities.
The organization of the concert to mark the celebration of the “National-International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December”, in congratulaton in which Cambodia to be the host and the Chair of the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption 2022-2023 and to celebratie the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corrption at the Royal University of Phnom Penh
12.3. Education through social media
The Department of Education, Prevention and Obstruction produced the news video content, documentaries, and the distribution of posters on anti-corruption work, as well as the dissemination of messages, policy and anti-corruption education on social media platform to the public of more than 380,240 people.
13. Prevention
ACU continued to make its commitment for the clean business environment with the participation from the private sector by signing Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation between ACU and 2 additional private companies ( reaching to 105 companies in total having signed MoU with the ACU).
Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony on Cooperation between the Anti-Corruption Unit and Private Companies
In order to have the in-depth study and to identify the risk of possible corruption or any irregularities in the health sector in Cambodia and to set out a strategic model to respond to the risks, ACU organized a three-day workshop on Risk Assestment of Irregularites in Health Sector (1-3/11/2022), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with the participation of the officials from Ministry Health, including staff from some public hospitals and health departments, as well as the officials from the judiciary, the legislative bodies and the private sector.
Opening Ceremony of Risk Assessment of Irregularities in Health Sector Workshop
In accordance with the National Strategic Plan against Corruption, Phase 3, 2020-2025, ACU participated in a meeting with the Ministry of Civil Service on the process of the preparation of the code of conduct for public officials in Cambodia aiming to promote for the abide by of the professional ethics and the implementation of the code of conduct within public institutions.
Discussion in the meeting on the preparation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials in Cambodia
14. Obstruction
In strengthening the compliance with the laws and regulations in force and supporting the will to strengthen transparency; aiming to further increase the trust in the good leadership of the respective ministry-institution from the public, ACU participated in the observation playing the role as the assistant of the senior managments of each respective ministry-institution by sharing all the relevant information, both the positives and the gaps for the improvement. These activities were implemented by the officials in the respective ministry-institution to enable the managements to find out and realize on time involve with the two major tasks: participated in the observation of public procurement (a total of 1,242 projects within 192 ministries and institutions) and the observation in the examination to recruit new cadre officials for ministries – institutions and the selection of students to enrol at vocational training schools (within the 6 ministries – institutions in which in total 10 times of observations were done). ACU also participated in the observation of the High School Graduation Exam for the academic year 2021-2022 at all stages, starting from the pre-writing, writing and scoring processes.
ACU participate in observing the process of recruiting students for the 10th Entrance level official of the Royal School of Administration
ACU and volunteer observers participate in the observation of the 2022 High School Graduation Exam
