PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Justice has called on judges and prosecutors to issue their decisions responsibly, especially in drug-related cases, while the government continues its campaign to fight corruption and improve the quality of justice in Cambodia.

Speaking at a press conference on January 10, Minister of Justice Keut Rith said that the new administration is launching a campaign to strengthen justice services and the quality of justice using two approaches: reform and strengthening of governance. He said that the current policy is to remove corrupt players from official positions, no matter their rank.

Minister Keut Rith said that moving forward, a press release must accompany any decision made on drug-related cases, from the prosecution stage to final judgment, explaining the reasoning for each decision. The Ministry of Justice says it will monitor the cases for abnormalities and said that anyone found taking bribes will be removed from their position.

"Please confirm the transparency [of your decisions] and that they are firm and correct,” he said, addressing judges and prosecutors. “[We need to see] whether or not the judge released someone in the wrong. Dare to take responsibility. Why was [the accused] released without evidence? Say ‘the case was not viable’, that’s ok! Defend your decision. [If we find out] the release was not in line with what you said, but that it’s due to a bribe, we will perform surgery (remove you from your position). Please be clear, this is not the time for warnings, it is time to operate. Drugs are not acceptable!”

As of early December 2023, drug cases in court accounted for up to 66% of criminal cases. Of the 2,000 women imprisoned in the country, more than half have been charged with drug-related crimes.

The Justice Minister asserted that the government does not interfere in the work of the courts and that the Ministry of Justice is working with the Supreme Council of the Magistracy and the Anti-Corruption Unit on these cases.

Measures to improve the quality and efficiency of the justice system were decided on August 24, 2023, just days after Prime Minister Hun Manet took office. The Ministry of Justice has been given the rights and responsibility to work on system reform. The campaign to check and resolve irregularities in the courts began on January 9, alongside the campaign to promote and expedite the resolution of court cases.