Phnom Penh (FN), September 5 - The Ministry of Interior's General Department of Immigration will take legal action against the owner of The Cambodia Daily, who owes more than $6 million to state tax.

The immigration department confirmed the action after receiving General Department of Taxation (GDT)'s request for the cooperation, according to a senior immigration department official on Tuesday.

Kong Vibol, Director General of the General Department of Taxation, announced the implementation of fiscal law and that the responsible person could not leave Cambodia.

"Even the Cambodia Daily declared to close, tax liabilities need to be implemented and taxpayers cannot leave Cambodia,” said Kong Vibol.

"If Daily fails to pay the state's debt, the government will act in accordance with Cambodia's fiscal law," he added.

The Cambodia Daily newspaper declared to close and cease publication as of September 4, 2017 due to extra-legal threats by the government to close the Daily, freeze its accounts and prosecute the new owner for the actions of the previous owner regarding tax evasion, according to Daily's immediate release on Sunday.
=FRESH NEWS