Only two complaints outstanding, NEC says

Election officials empty a ballot box to begin counting votes at a polling station in Phnom Penh. Pha Lina

22 Jun, 2017 Niem Chheng

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Out of 64 complaints filed with the National Election Committee (NEC) over the June 4 commune elections, only two remain outstanding, the election body said yesterday.

The remaining issues are in Svay Rieng province’s closely contested Doung commune and in Kampong Speu’s Trapaing Chor commune.

The first concerns a complaint lodged by the CNRP in Doung over the conduct of the chief of the Provincial Election Committee, Em Sot.

The commune has been hotly contested. The Cambodian People’s Party, originally deemed to have lost the vote, prevailed in successive recounts.

Sot is accused of pressuring vote counters and monitors by standing too close while results were tallied, and handling the ballots inappropriately, said Y Muyly, the CNRP candidate for the area.

“He took the ballot papers which were not sealed into his room,” said Muyly.

“When the ballot got to the NEC, there was discrepancy.”

Keo Phalla, head of the NEC’s legal department, said he yesterday questioned the relevant parties and a verdict would be announced by Friday.

Meanwhile, in Kampong Speu’s Trapaing Chor commune, in Oral district, the CPP has complained that CNRP commune chief candidate Bun Vichet had gifted three mosquito nets to villagers.

Sa Im, chief of the CNRP executive committee for Kampong Speu, said he was under the impression the matter had already been resolved.

Of the 64 complaints, 59 were rejected, primarily because the body said they were filed too late. Three more, concerning recounts, were resolved.