The Anti-Corruption Unit has uncovered several cases of forged bachelor’s degrees among the 736 applicants seeking to join the Bar Association of Cambodia.
Ou Sitha, deputy director of the Office of the Ombudsman and head of the Special Task Force on Forensic and Investigation, said the fraudulent applications were referred to the courts.
The first case involved a candidate who failed the 2019 exam twice and purchased a forged diploma for $700 through an intermediary. Investigators found the suspect used the fake document 17 times, while the middleman admitted to taking a $30 to $50 commission per certificate after linking clients to roughly 30 brokers.
In the second case, another candidate who failed a 2019 entrance exam bought a fake diploma for $350 at a coffee shop. The suspect later confessed that the broker responsible was connected to a Ministry of Education secretary of state, having used the fraudulent document seven times.
A third case involved a former monk who submitted a counterfeit degree he claimed was given to him by a fellow monk without payment. The individual used the fake qualification four times.
The fourth case centred on a candidate who failed the 2014 bar exam. After initially blaming his late grandfather and facing an hour of questioning, the candidate, whose father is a lawyer, confessed to paying a tutor $1,200 in 2018 to fabricate a 2015 certificate. Because he withdrew his application, the Bar Association noted he could not face criminal prosecution.
Authorities are continuing to build cases regarding other document irregularities, including two instances where candidates ignored summonses to appear for questioning. Officials stated that legal procedures will be enforced against those who refuse to cooperate.
The crackdown underscores ongoing efforts to ensure fairness, transparency and verified qualifications for legal professionals tasked with upholding justice.
