Cleared in Toxic Waste Case

    Six of the nine government officials singled out by the Sihanounville Court for extensive questioning over waste dumping near the seaside town has been cleared, officials confirmed Monday.

The six suspended officials were removed as suspects because the court was unable to gather enough evidence against them, officials familiar with the court's work said.

"There wasn't proof against them", said an Interior Ministry source who asked not be identified. Huon Mony, the Sihanoukville Court's investigating judge, said   Monday he sent report to the ministries of interior and Finance about the six cleared men.

    Among those cleared is Kieng Vichet, of the Immigration Police's border check-point at Sihanoukville port. He is a close associate of National Police Director-General Hok Lungdy Interior officials said.

    Kieng Vichet said Monday that he was pleased to be cleared. "For me, I am happy to be cleared from the charge and I think the judicial system is independent enough, "he said by telephone . "But I also hope that the court will bring justice for other [suspects in the case]."

    The others who were cleared are: Seang Chantry, the former deputy customs director; sun Somphal, the former chief Sihanoukville customs office, Ny Sean, the former deputy chief of Sihanoukville customs office; Tep Vuthy, the chief of economic police at Sihanoukville port; and Chheng Sopheap, the former deputy police chief at Sihanouk port.

    At least three officials are apparently still being investigated for their role in the arrival in Cambodia of 3,000 tons of mercury-tainted industrial waste produced by Taiwanese petrochemical giant Formosa Plastics.

    More than 100 officials were suspended following the mid- December discovery of the dump site 14 km out side Sihanoukville town. Demonstrations by citizens against the waste turned violent and thousands fled  Sihanoukville fearing for their health.

    Suspended Customs Director In Saroeun, Lonh Vannak of the Customs' pricing department, and Peng Chheng, a senior official for Camcontrol, the Commerce Ministry's inspection unit, remain charged, accused in the arrest warrants of causing damage to life, property and the environment. They are not under detention. Huon Mony did not say what will be the fate of the three still facing charges.

Cambodia businessman Sam Moeurn of the Muth Vuthy Import Co is the only person to be linked to the incident and arrested. Neither the government nor the court has released a definitive accounting of the incident. It remains unknown who in Cambodia arranged the import of the toxic waste how much was paid by Formosa Plastics or the Taiwanese transport company that shipped the waste to Sihakoukvill, or where that money went.