PHNOM PENH: Another police official was removed from his post this week after his criminal past resurfaced. Minister of Interior Sar Sokha dismissed Heng Hab from his post as Kampot Deputy Police Commissioner on September 14 after CCTV footage circulated on social media, showing him stealing an iPad from a store in 2019 while in uniform.

Having returned the iPad, the officer was forgiven and cleared of charges and promoted to Deputy Police Commissioner last month. The footage of the theft began circulating on social media upon his promotion, prompting the decision of the Ministry of Interior to remove him from his post on September 14, saying he violated the code of the National Police Force.

This comes three days after Lt. Col. Hong Sarom was removed from his newly-appointed position as Stuong District’s Chief of Police in Kampong Thom after his involvement in a 2015 jewelry heist was exposed on social media.