There are stories, unverifiable but plausible, that 20 or more of Hun Sen’s closest associates have each amassed more than $1 billion through misappropriation of state assets, illegal economic activity, and favoritism in state procurement and contracting. There has also been political patronage bordering on parody, with one recent count putting the government’s size at 244 ministers and secretaries of state.
伴此而生的是令人咋舌的腐败，在透明国际（Transparency International）的排名中，柬埔寨在175个国家中位列地160名。不少无从考证但听起来颇为可信的传闻指出，洪森亲信圈的20多人没人都通过侵吞国有资产、非法经济活动和国家采购和招标舞弊中敛财10亿多美元。政治庇护也是横行无碍，最新数据表明柬埔寨政府有244名部长和国务委员。