Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Civil servants prohibited from practise of law while in office

Civil servants prohibited from practise of law while in office

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Interior minister Sar Kheng during a visit to Bavel district in Battambang province. INTERIOR MINISTRY

Civil servants prohibited from practise of law while in office

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng instructed civil servants to take action against their colleagues who are working in public service while privately practising law. Lawyers who hold government posts, he warned, have three months to decide which career they intend to pursue.

Sar Kheng’s instruction, dated February 28, detailed the incompatibility between serving the public and taking on private clients.

He said the officials in question have to choose just one of the two professions. Should they opt to be an interior ministry official, they must change their Bar Association status to inactive or request to be deleted.

The ministry will liaise with the association and all units at the national and sub-national level to corroborate the names of the affected officials.

“In the event that a civil servant is practicing law and is not determined to be inactive or removed from the association’s registry, the head of his or her unit will advise the individual to choose one profession within three months of the issuance of this instruction,” Sar Kheng said.

“If the applicant does not choose a single profession, the head of the unit must report them to the ministry in writing. Their name will then be deleted from the ministry’s registry of staff,” he added.

Liv Sovanna, secretary-general of the Bar Association in the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC), thanked Sar Kheng for issuing the instructions, saying that they were an important reminder to those who serve as lawyers and public officials.

“The instructions are in line with the terms and conditions of practicing law in the Kingdom. BAKC supports and thanks [Sar Kheng] for making this clear,” he said.

Sovanna said if a lawyer wants to work at a government institution, they must submit an application form to BAKC, which would suspend the lawyer’s membership for the duration of their posting. The bar had published a list of practicing lawyers so the public could easily discover if someone had followed correct procedures and suspended their registration.

“Any lawyer who is caught breaching these guidelines will face disciplinary action by the association. BAKC encourages members of the public and government employees alike to inform us of any instance where these incompatible employment circumstances are taking place,” he added.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one