Big news is coming out of Svay Rieng: Chhoun Chhang, the former chief of the provincial police's anti-economic crime bureau, has finally run out of luck. Following an investigation, local prosecutors officially charged him with extortion and abuse of power, handing his case over to an investigating judge to prepare for trial.
Prosecutors took a tough stance, asking the court to place Chhang in pre-trial detention. The move is meant to keep the former police chief from using his old connections to meddle in the case or commit further abuses while out on the street. A man who once carried serious weight in the province now finds himself waiting for his day in court from behind bars.
The news has been buzzing over iced coffees at street side stalls across the provincial capital and down in the border towns. For everyday folks navigating the heat and exhaust on their motos, trying to run small shops or make rent, corrupt officials stretching out their hands are the last thing they need. Seeing the authorities actually move against a big shot has brought a genuine sigh of relief to the neighborhood.
