CAMBODIA

CAMBODIAN POLICE HISTORY

1863-1883-
Cambodia is under the French protectorate.

1884-1945-
Before the establishment of the Cambodia National Police in 1945, Khmer people with
France did the policing to strengthen security and social order.

1884-
Phnom Penh police force was fully equipped with arms

1885-
Organization of police in Phnom Penh Port to improve the inspection of ship scoming
through the port.

1896
- Promulgation of the law on Sanitary Police, the law which was used in France since
1822.

1897
- Issuance of a regulation on Maritime Sanitary Police.

1897
- Issuance of a regulation on Maritime Sanitary Police.

1905
- Cambodian Maritime Police were established.

1912
- River Police Brigade was established.

1925
- Establishment of commune Patrol sor Rural Police.

1931
1. Establishment of Provincial Patrols or Provincial Police.2. Phnom Penh-
Battambang Railway Police was established to suppress crime and protect
individual property as well as maintain the order along the railway.

1945
- The birth of the Cambodian National Police on May 16, 1945. A Decree made
by Cambodia King Norodom Sihakmoni setting May 16, 1945 as the birth
of the Cambodian National Police. He made the decree on August 8, 2006.

1953
- France transferred police institution to the Royal Government of Cambodia on August
29, 1953 before gaining full Independence on November 9, 1953.

 POLICE SYSTEM

II. Organizational Structure and functioning of Police (and Administration) from

1903 to 1939

1. Organization of "Administrative and Judicial Police and Phnom Penh Police"

under 1903 Sub-Decree issued by Indo-China Governor-General;
2. Cambodian Maritime Police were established in 1905;
3. Law on "Animal Sanitary Police" was enforced in 1908. The law required the
killing of an animal with infectious disease but returned the compensation of ¾ of
the animal price to the owner;
4. River Police Brigade was established in 1912 and was strengthened in 1913; 
5. Partisans which assisted police was planned to establish in Battambang province
in 1916;
6. Cambodian Police Association was established in 1916 to promote solidarity and
friendship within the police force;
7. Law on Alcohol Ban in Public Places was promulgated in 1917;
8. Traffic Regulation on cargo and passenger trucks was also promulgated in 1918;
 9. Prostitution, Road Rules, and abandoned animals in pounds. In 1921, daily
report of Police Commissioner-General stated strict control on the treatment of
prostitutes in hospital and attention on Road Rules and abandoned animals in
pounds;
10. Reorganization of Administration System: In 1921 there was a reorganization
of administrative system by establishing "Khan" in between “district and
"commune" i.e. the provincial administrative system included province, district,
Khan, commune. However, Khan was left out in 1934.
11. Maritime Mobile Police Team: Report on the operation of Maritime Mobile
Police Team in 1924 revealed that the mobile team carried out patrols very
frequently in the Gulf of Thailand in order to search for many Asian people who
"did not have residential permits" in villages along the coast.
12. Establishment of commune Patrols or Rural Police: The Royal Decree dated
5 December 1925 established "Commune Patrols" or Rural Police in Cambodia.
The Commune Patrols were placed under the commune authority, particularly
commune chief and under permanent supervision of Khan Chief. 

Note: World Economic Crisis occurred in 1929 gave negative impacts on  Cambodia

since 1930. Living standard of the people dropped, insecurity appeared  nationwide
because of the increase of theft. The Establishment of Provincial  Patrols in 1931 was
one of the additional measures after the Establishment of  Commune Patrols in 1925
mainly to cope with security issues throughout the  country at the time.   

13. Training dormitory in Svay Rieng for Commune Patrols: The Royal Decree
dated 1st March 1929 authorized the communes in Svay Rieng province to
gather their resources to build a "Training Dormitory" in the provincial town for
Commune Patrols using as training ground to become Social Guards.
14. Establishment of Provincial Patrols or Provincial Police: The Royal Decree
dated 27 January 1931 established "Provincial Patrols" or "Provincial Police" in
all provinces throughout Cambodia for the maintenance of public order.
15. Railway Police: Phnom Penh-Battambang Railway Police was established in
1931 to suppress crime and protect individual property as well as maintain the
order along the railway.
16. Tonle Sap River Brigade: The Sub-Decree of Senior Resident Supervisor dated
18 January 1933 established "Tonle Sap River Brigade" to protect fishing lots. It
was based in Krokor (Pursat) but allocated in 5 regions: Krokor (Pursat),
Kampong Chnnang, Kampong Thom, Kampong Klang (Siem Reap), and
Bakprea (Battambang).
17. Police at Siam border: On 2 October 1939 Cambodian police at Siam border
was established to heighten security at Ropov River as World War II just started
in early September 1939.

The brief history of activities and achievements in Section I (1884-1945) showed that
the organization and structure of the police in Cambodia had close link to national and
international political situation and socio-economic changes. 
Reference Link: http://www.aseanapol.org/information/cambodian-national-police

 TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

Reference Link: https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/cambodia/government

Executive Branch
The prime minister of Cambodia is a representative from the ruling party of the
National Assembly. The prime minister is appointed by the king on the recommendation
of the president and vice presidents of the National Assembly. The prime minister must
receive be given a vote of confidence by the National Assembly.
The prime minister is officially the head of government in Cambodia. The prime
minister appoints a Council of Ministers. Officially, the prime minister's duties include
chairing meetings of the Council of Ministers (Cambodia's version of a  cabinet) and
appointing and leading a government. The prime minister and the government make up
Cambodia's executive branch of government.
The current prime minister is Cambodian People's Party (CPP) member Hun Sen.
He has held this position since the criticized 1998 election, one year after the CPP
staged a bloody coup in Phnom Penh to overthrow elected Prime Minister
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of the FUNCINPEC party.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch of the Cambodian government is made up of
a bicameral parliament.
  The National Assembly (រដ្ឋសភា Rôdthsâphéa) has 125 members, elected
for a five-year term by proportional representation.
 The Senate (ព្រឹទស ្ធ ភា Prœ̆ tthsâphéa) has 61 members. Two of these
members are appointed by the king, two are elected by the lower house of
the government, and the remaining fifty-seven are elected popularly by
"functional constituencies". Members in this house serve a six-year term.
The official duty of the Parliament is to legislate and make laws. Bills passed by the
Parliament are given to the king who gives the proposed bills royal assent. The king
does not have veto power over bills passed by the National Assembly and thus, cannot
withhold royal assent. The National Assembly also has the power to dismiss the prime
minister and his government by a two-thirds vote of no confidence.
Senate
The upper house of the Cambodian legislature is called the Senate. It consists of
sixty-one members. Two of these members are appointed by the king, two are elected
by the lower house of the government, and the remaining fifty-seven are elected
popularly by electors from provincial and local governments, in a similar fashion to
the Senate of France. Members in this house serve six-year terms.
Prior to 2006, elections had last been held for the Senate in 1999. New elections
were supposed to have occurred in 2004, but these elections were initially postponed.
On January 22, 2006, 11,352 possible voters went to the poll and chose their
candidates. This election was criticized by local monitoring non-governmental
organizations as being undemocratic.
As of 2006, the Cambodian People's Party holds forty-three seats in the Senate,
constituting a significant majority. The two other major parties holding seats in the
Senate are the Funcinpec party (holding twelve seats) and the Sam Rainsy
Party (holding two seats).
● CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

The Courts of First Instance

The Court of First Instance is regulated under Article 12 to Article 34 of the 2014 Law on
Court Organization. The Court of First Instance is the first trial Court and is created by
Royal Decree and located within the Capital and Provinces – see Law on Court
Organization (2014), Art 5 and Art 12. For the Military Court – see Law on Court
Organization (1993) Art.2, § 1.The Court of First Instance is divided into specialized
Courts such as Criminal Court, Civil Court, Commercial Court and Labor Court – see
Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 14. However, these specialized Courts have not
yet been created and the current practice is for the competent Court of the respective
provinces and the Capital Court to hear all cases.

Criminal Court of the Court of First Instance

The jurisdiction of the Criminal Court of the Court of the First Instance is stipulated in
Article 20 of the 2014 Law on Court Organization. The Criminal Court of the Court of
First Instance shall have the competence to hear all criminal cases which fall within its
jurisdictional competence in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedures, except
as otherwise provided by other law.

The Criminal Court of the Court of First Instance shall adjudicate criminal cases by one
Judge or a Panel of Judges in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal
Procedures – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 20.

Civil Court of the Court of First Instance

The jurisdiction of the Civil Court of the Court of the First Instance is stipulated in Article
21 of the 2014 Law on Court Organization. The Civil Court of the Court of First Instance
shall have the competence to hear all civil cases which fall within its jurisdictional
competence in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedures, except as otherwise
provided by other law.

The Civil Court of the Court of First Instance shall adjudicate civil cases by one Judge or
a Panel of Judges in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedures –
see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 21.

Commercial Court of the Court of First Instance

The term “Commercial Court” is found in the 1995 Law on Commercial Rules and
Register. However, the Court has not yet been established. See Law on the
Commercial Regulations and the Commercial Register, Art.55, (1995) . This law states
during the period in which the Kingdom of Cambodia has no Commercial Court, the
ordinary Courts of the Kingdom of Cambodia shall be competent in all commercial
matters. Presently, all commercial cases are adjudicated by the Civil Court.

The jurisdiction of the Commercial Court of the Court of the First Instance is stipulated
in Article 22 to Article 24 of the 2014 Law on Court Organization.The Commercial Court
of the Court of First Instance shall have the competence to hear all commercial cases
including insolvency case in accordance with provisions commercial procedures – see
Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.22.The Commercial Court of the Court of First
Instance, when hearing the cases, shall be comprised of three Judges and
accompanied by two advisors, who are businessmen or who have knowledge in
commercial laws where the subject matter is equal to or over 1.000.000.000 (One
thousand million) Riels. However, where the subject matter is between 100.000.000
(One Hundred Million) Riels to below 1.000.000.000 (One thousand million) Riels, a
panel shall consist of only one Judge and accompanied by two advisors, who are
businessmen or who have knowledge in commercial law – see Law on Court
Organization (2014), Art.23

The judgment of the Commercial Court of the Court of First Instance is rendered by one
Judge or three Judges after the consultation with commercial advisorsdepending on the
preceding paragraph. The commercial advisors do not carry out their duties
permanently in the Commercial Court of the Court of First Instance. Commercial
advisors carry out their functions at the invitation of the President of Commercial Court
of the Court of First Instance – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.23.The
procedures of selecting and the terms of reference for the commercial advisors are
determined by a Sub-Decree upon the request of the Minister of Justice following the
consultation with the Minister of Commerce – see Law on Court Organization (2014),
Art 24.

Labor Court of the Court of First Instance

The term “Labor Court” is found in the 1997 Labor Law, However, the Court has not yet
been established – see Labor Law (1997), Art.389. Presently, Labor cases are
adjudicated by the Civil Court.

The Organization of the Labor Court of the Court of the First Instance is stipulated under
Article 25 to Article 28 of the 2014 Law on Court Organization. The Labor Court of the
Court of First Instance shall have competence to hear all cases relating to labor in
accordance with the provisions on the labor procedures – see Law on Court
Organization (2014), Art. 25. The Labor Court of the Court of First Instance, when
hearing the cases, shall consist of one Judge and accompanied by two labor advisors,
among whom one is the worker/employee and another is the employer. The judgment of
the Labor Court of the Court of First Instance is rendered by a Judge after the
consultation with labor advisors. The labor advisors do not carry out their duties
permanently in the Labor Court of the Court of First Instance. Labor advisors carry out
their functions at the invitation of the President of Labor Court of the Court of First
Instance – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.26.The procedures of selecting
and terms of reference for the labor advisors are determined by a Sub-Decree upon the
request of the Minister of Justice following the consultation with the Minister in charge of
labor –see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art. 28.

The Competent Labor Court is the Labor Court of the Court of First Instance where the
labor disputes arise. Though the competence is determined in the above paragraph, the
workers/employees may file lawsuits in Court of First Instance as determined below,
except as otherwise provided by the provisions of other law: at his/her place of
residence or at the location of head office or a principal place of the company or legal
entity or at the place of residence of the representative or a person in charge of the
company or legal entity, if the location of head office or a principal place of the
Company is not available – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.27.

Appeal Courts
As explained above, the higher Courts are composed of the Appeal Court and Supreme
Court.

The Appeal Court is regulated under Article 35 to Article 54 of the 2014 Law on Court
Organization. The Appeal Court is the second level of the trial chamber. The Appeal
Court includes the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh and regional Appeal Courts to be
established by a Royal Decree – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.35.

According to the law, the Appeal Court consists of the Criminal Chamber; Civil
Chamber; Investigating Chamber; Commercial Chamber; Labor and other specialized
Chambers to be created by Royal Decree when necessary. Each Chamber renders its
judgment(s) autonomously within its jurisdictional competence, in the name of the Court
of Appeal to which it belongs – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.37. Each
Chamber, when hearing the cases, shall consist of three Judges, one of whom is the
Chairman in accordance with the applicable procedures. In the event that a case is
transferred back by the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal shall adjudicate the case
with five Judges all of whom should not have previously adjudicated on the same case –
see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art Wiebe. The Appellate Court reviews
both Ang Het (matters of facts) and Ang Chbab (matters of law) see Law on Court
Organization (2014), Art.42. The Court of Appeal has the jurisdiction to adjudicate all
cases within its territorial jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided by law to fall under
the jurisdiction of other Courts – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 41.

The Criminal Chamber

The Criminal Chamber has competence to hear Uttoh Appeals against criminal
judgments of the Courts of First Instance and other cases within its jurisdictional
competence in accordance with the applicable provisions on criminal procedures-
seeLaw on Court Organization (2014), Art 43.

The Civil Chamber

The Civil Chamber has competence to hear Uttoh Appeals against civil judgment(s) of
the Court of First Instance within its jurisdictional competence in accordance with the
applicable provisions on civil procedures. The judgment is made by three Judges; one
of whom is the Chairman – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 44.

The Investigating Chamber

The Investigating Chamber has competence to hear Uttoh Appeals against decisions of
the invested Judge and other cases as determined by law within its jurisdictional
competence in accordance with the applicable provisions on criminal procedures. The
judgment is made by three Judges, one of whom is the Chairman – see Law on Court
Organization (2014), Art 45.

The Commercial Chamber

The Commercial Chamber has competence to hear Uttoh Appeals against decisions of
the Court of First Instance in commercial cases within its jurisdictional competence in
accordance with the applicable provisions relating to commercial procedures. The
judgment is made by three Judges, one of whom is the Chairman. The Commercial
Chamber of the Court of Appeal, when hearing the cases, shall consist of three Judges
and accompanied by two advisors, who are businessmen or who have knowledge in
commercial laws and who are not the commercial advisors to the same case previously
adjudicated before the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal. The judgment of
the Commercial Chamber of the Appeal Court is made by three Judges after
consultation with the commercial advisors. The commercial advisors do not carry out
their duties permanently in the Commercial Chamber of the Court of Appeal. The
commercial advisors carry out their functions at the invitation of the President of the
Commercial Chamber of the Court of Appeal. The procedures of selecting and terms of
reference for the commercial advisors are determined by a Sub-Decree upon the
request of the Minister of Justice following the consultation with the Minister of
Commerce – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 46.

The Labor Chamber

The Labor Chamber has competence to hear Uttoh Appeals against decisions of the
Court of First Instance in labor cases and other cases within its jurisdictional
competence in accordance with the applicable provisions on labor procedures. The
Labor Chamber of the Court of Appeal, when hearing the cases, shall consist of three
Judges and are accompanied by two labor advisors, among whom one is the
worker/employee and another is the employer; both of whom are not the labor advisors
to the same case previously adjudicated before the Court of First Instance and the
Court of Appeal. The decision of the Labor Chamber is made by three Judges, after
consultation with the labor advisors. The labor advisor do not carry out his/her duties
permanently in the Labor Chamber of the Court of Appeal. The labor advisors carry out
his/her functions at the invitation of the President of the Labor Chamber of the Court of
Appeal. The procedures of electing and the duties of the labor advisors are regulated by
a Sub- Decree upon the request of the Minister of Justice following the consultation with
the Minister in charge of labor – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 47.

The Joint Chamber

The Joint Chamber may be created by the President of the Appeal Court to hear
caseswhich fall within the competence of multiple chambers or if the case results in a
controversial solution before different Chambers of the same Court of Appeal. The Joint
Chamber is conducted at the invitation of the President of the Appeal Court. The Joint
Chamber consists of at least five Judges and decision of the Joint Chamber is binding
on all chambers to follow. The President of the Court of Appeal shall issue judgment in
accordance with the decision of the Joint Chamber. The decision on the conflict of
jurisdiction and conflict of law is the final decision – see Law on Court Organization
(2014), Art 48.

Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is regulated under Article 55 to Article 73 of the 2014 Law on Court
Organization. The Supreme Court is the highest Court in Cambodia and located in the
capital Phnom Penh – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.55. It has jurisdiction
to adjudicate all cases within its territorial jurisdiction in accordance with applicable
procedures – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 61. Moreover, recently, based
on the Law on the Amendment of the Law on Political Party, the Supreme Court has
jurisdiction, as a Court of First and Final Instance, over cases filed by the Ministry of
Interior in case it finds that a political party has committed a serious offence.

According to the law, the Supreme Court consists of Criminal Chamber; Civil Chamber;
Commercial Chamber; Labor and other specialized Chambers to be created by Royal
Decree when necessary. Each Chamber renders its judgment(s) autonomously within
its jurisdictional competence, in the name of the Supreme Court to which it belongs –
see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art.57. Each Chamber, when hearing the cases,
shall consist of fiveJudges, one of whom is the Chairman in accordance with the
applicable procedures – see Law on Court Organization (2014), Art 59.

Reference Link: https://cacj-ajp.org/cambodia/judiciary/overview-of-cambodian-judiciary/

 JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (ARTICLES 37 AND 40)

The problem of children in conflict with the law is becoming serious in Cambodian
society. Children come into conflict with the law due to a lack of proper parental care,
lack of food, homelessness, and lack of schooling. Children become vagabonds and
they commit serious misconduct such as robberies, rapes, kidnappings and other
criminal activities. Some offences are committed due to the intimidation of the 'Big
Brother' gangs. There are some specific provisions in the Law on Criminal Procedures
and the UNTAC Criminal Law with respect to child offenders, but this is not enough to
fully comply with the CRC.

Cambodia has no juvenile justice system and there is no alternative placement for
incarcerating children separately from adults, except for one Youth Rehabilitation
Centre (YRC) in Phnom Penh. According to prison statistics from LICADHO, the
number of children detained in adult prisons rose from 45 in January 1998 to 163
children by August 1999, of whom only 62 (38%) had been sentenced. During the same
period the number of children detained at the YRC rose from 45 (none sentenced) to
48, with one having been sentenced. This gives a total of 211 children in detention by
August 1999, of whom 63 (30%) were sentenced by a court. Some were sentenced
without any proper accusation from the court and without having recourse to legal
representation.

In addition many children are detained in police stations without clear incriminating
evidence, and often beaten until they confess. The RGC opened the youth rehabilitation
centre in 1995 in order to rehabilitate children in conflict with the law. It was set up by a
sub-decree, with the aim of detaining "children from 7 to 17 years of age who have
committed themselves to perversity, thievery and robbery throughout the country". The
proposal to detain children under 13 is actually in conflict with other Cambodian laws on
minimum age of imprisonment, but in practice most children detained are aged from 13
to 18 and some are over 18.

According to NGO surveys in 1999, the centre currently provides no education

above grade 2, and no vocational training, due to shortage of funds. There are also
concerns about lack of clean water, shortage of bedding and food (only two meals per
day) and high incidence of sickness, especially skin diseases related to unsanitary
conditions. The government provides only R1000 ($0.26) per child per day for food,
while WFP provides 0.45 kg of rice and 0.25 kg of canned fish per child per day.
Furthermore few if any children at YRC are sentenced by a court: children are mostly
arrested and brought to the centre by police, and length of detention is decided by an
internal committee of the YRC. Despite the RGC's best efforts, the solution has not
properly responded to Article 37 paragraph b to d, and article 40 of the CRC as
reflected in children being sent to detention centre or prisons without proper court
judgment and access to due process of law, and the lack of basic health, education and
rehabilitation services for the detained children.

Recommendations the RGC should:

· Create a juvenile justice system and child care law which is separate from the adult
system.

· Provide detention facilities for children separate from adult prisons.

· Send inspectors to monitor and provide medical care for detained children in prisons
through the provision of standard health services.

· Raise awareness of the CRC among prosecutors, police and prison officers.

· The Supreme Council of Magistracy should monitor the management of cases

concerning children, to allow all children coming before the courts to be legally
represented and given a fair trial before being subject to detention.

· Carry out a full review of the YRC to create a clear admission policy and improved
services, and to ensure that all children detained have access to full process of law and
legal representation, and receive an appropriate education and rehabilitation
programme.

· Set up co-operation between the relevant ministries, and the NGO sector where
appropriate, to develop diversion mechanisms for children in conflict with the law as an
alternative to custodial sentences (e.g. community service, probation etc).

 CAMBODIAN POLICE ACADEMY

The Royal Krom dated October 6, 1959, established the Royal Police Academy
under the Ministry of National Security. One of the responsibilities of the Royal Police
Academy was to train new recruits of high-ranking level, and provide a proficiency
course to the existing staff on laws, procedure and police professionalism so that they
could hold and perform their duties effectively.

Cambodian Police Ranking System (From Highest to Lowest Rank)

General
Lieutenant General
Major General
Brigadier General
Colonel
lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
1st Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant
Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
Sergeant Major
First Sergeant
Staff Sergeant

 SALARY AND BENEFITS

A person working as a Police

Officer in Cambodia typically earns
around 1,990,000 KHR per month. Salaries
range from 914,000 KHR (lowest) to 3,160,000
KHR (highest).

This is the average monthly salary

including housing, transport, and other
benefits. Police Officer salaries vary drastically
based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed
breakdown based on many different criteria.
A Police Officer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 1,040,000

KHR per month. While someone with an

experience level between two and five
years is expected to earn 1,390,000 KHR
per month, 34% more than someone with
less than two year's experience. Moving
forward, an experience level between five
and ten years lands a salary of 2,050,000
KHR per month, 48% more than someone
with two to five years of experience. Additionally, Police Officer(s) whose expertise span
anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 2,500,000 KHR per
month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience. If the experience
level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 2,720,000 KHR per
month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience. Lastly,
employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of
2,950,000 KHR per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of
experience.

 UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

 The standard weapons
of the Royal Gendarmerie of
Cambodia are the Makarov
PMM 9mm pistol, the Type
56-2 assault rifle,
the M16A1 assault rifle with
the M203 grenade
launcher, AKMS assault rifle
and the Type 56 assault rifle.
Usually PM Officer and drivers
are assigned the Type 56-2 and
gunners are the PKM general
purpose machine gun.
Crew-served or vehicle based
weapons include the Type 80 general
purpose machine gun on tripod with
250 round boxes and the Type
77 heavy machine gun.
Mounted MP teams often carry at
least one B- 40 or RPG-7D as
well.

 RATIO AND POPULATION

 Cambodia has a high crime rate, including street crime. Military weapons and
explosives are readily available to criminals despite authorities’ efforts to collect and
destroy such weapons. Armed robberies occur frequently, and foreign residents and
visitors, including U.S. citizens, are among the victims. The Embassy has also received
reports that hotel rooms of U.S. citizen visitors in Phnom Penh were burglarized while
the occupants were asleep.

The most common type of theft is “snatch and grab” robbery, and anything that can be
quickly grabbed is at risk: cameras, jewelry, purses, backpacks, mobile phones, etc.
Exercise caution and keep belongings out of sight if you travel via “tuk-tuk,” as
passengers in these open-air vehicles have been targeted by thieves. If walking along
the street, make yourself less of a target by carrying bags or items in your hand or on
the shoulder this is furthest from the street. If someone attempts to rob you, you should
surrender your valuables immediately, since any perceived resistance may be met with
physical violence, including lethal force.

Pickpockets, some of whom are beggars, are present in the markets and at tourist sites.
Sometimes they may act overly friendly, placing their hand on your shoulder or back to
distract you in order to pick your pocket.

Criminal Penalties
While you are traveling in Cambodia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a
U.S. citizen. Foreign laws, legal systems, and criminal penalties can be vastly different
than our own. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Criminal
penalties will vary from country to country. There are also acts that might be legal in the
country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S.
law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or
disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the
United States. If you break local laws in Cambodia, your U.S. passport won’t help you
avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not
where you are going.

COMPARISON

Law enforcement in Cambodia is handled by the Cambodian National Police,

one of three General Departments within the Ministry of the Interior. The
National Police share significant functional overlap with the Military Police
(officially the National Gendarmerie), which functions within the Ministry of
Defense. Therefore, there are several police systems in the Philippines. On
the national level are the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine
Constabulary; at the local level each political entity has its own police force.
The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein
power is equally divided among its three branches: executive, legislative, and
judicial. The government seeks to act in the best interests of its citizens
through this system of check and balance.