Education official out after arrest in S Korea

A SENIOR Education Ministry official, arrested for sexually harassing an interpreter while representing the government at an international conference in South Korea, has had his post terminated, the ministry announced yesterday.

In a statement, the Education Ministry said Kry Seang Long was relegated and is no longer director of the Vocational Orientation Department.

Officials, however, could not be reached to confirm whether Long was still employed by the ministry or the state.

According to Korean news reports, the 44-year-old Cambodian official was arrested by police on May 26 for attempting to grope and kiss an interpreter in Seoul’s Guro-Gu district.

Long, who was attending the three-day 2016 ASEAN+3 Human Resource Development forum between May 23 and 25, was released after paying a fine of 5 million won (about $4,300), according to a report by News 1 Korea, which also added that prosecutors have moved to see the official banned from the country.

Speaking by phone yesterday, a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official confirmed Seang Long’s arrest was related to a suspected sexual assault case but declined to comment further.

According to a letter written by Cambodian Ambassador to South Korea Long Dimanche, reported by the Cambodia Daily, the Education Ministry shelled out more than $12,000 to secure his release, including compensation to the victim and legal fees.

In its statement yesterday, the ministry said it had only loaned the money to Seang Long, who has since repaid the cash.