Preah Vihear, Cambodia – Officials at the Preah Vihear Provincial Prison have issued a strong denial against alarming reports circulating on social media that suggest three to four inmates are dying daily. This statement follows a Facebook post by Las Sotheara on November 1, which made unsubstantiated claims about the prison's conditions.

In a formal clarification, prison authorities categorically refuted the allegations, stating that the allegations of frequent inmate deaths are misleading and incorrect. The officials emphasized that all inmates are provided with necessary medical care and undergo regular health check-ups conducted by qualified prison medical staff.

The statement highlighted that the prison has designated facilities for chronically ill and elderly inmates, ensuring their specific medical needs are adequately addressed. In extreme cases where on-site medical facilities cannot manage chronic conditions, inmates are referred to Dap Prammuoy Makara Referral Hospital in Preah Vihear for further treatment.

Furthermore, prison representatives assured that the quality of food provided to inmates—comprising rice, vegetables, fish, meat, and various spices—is closely monitored. Adequate nutritional support is guaranteed through two meals a day.

While the prison acknowledged that there were three confirmed inmate deaths last month, officials clarified that these incidents were unrelated and occurred on separate days. The causes of these deaths varied, encompassing health issues such as pneumonia, kidney failure, diabetes, liver toxicity, and heart attack. The fatalities were recorded on different days from October 9 to 29, dispelling claims of multiple deaths occurring concurrently.

Lieutenant General Nuth Savna, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Prisons (GDP) at the Ministry of Interior, urged the public to exercise caution regarding sensationalized information disseminated via social media. He stressed the importance of relying on verified information, especially concerning sensitive topics such as the welfare and treatment of inmates.