Hun Sen orders to investigate Chakrapong’s debt

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Chakrapong who owes the finance ministry is being investigated a 1.36-million debt by lawyers ordering from prime minister Hun Sen. The prince’s assets could be confiscated if he does not pay up, a government spokesman said Wednesday. 

“Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the legal group to check on Prince Chakrapong’s debt”, information Minister and government spokeman Khieu Kanharith said Wednesday.

He said the prince owes the money and he must repay it. He can sell his house to settle the debt.
The finance Ministry revealed Prince Chakrapong with the 1.36-million bill in March 2006 for unpaid taxes and fees on his Royal Phnom Pen Airways. According to Kong Vibol, Finance Secretary of Sate, Chakrapong owed five years’ worth of unpaid taxes on the airline and navigation as well as landing fees. 

Prince Chakrapong, the airline’s chairman, denied to responsible for the debt as the airline is bankrupt. He said when his company had gone bankrupt, it had finished.

Prince Chakrapong pointed out that the debt has been raised for political reasons. He said all companies owe the government money, but the government has targeted only him because he is acting president of the Norodom Ranariddh Party. He alleged that the government is trying to force royals out of politics altogether because people still support the royals.