Documents promoting Prime Minister Hun Sen’s son Hun Manith to a rank equivalent to minister and tycoon Ly Yong Phat as Hun Sen’s personal adviser have been officially released in the Royal Gazette.

The two royal decrees, dated December 6, 2022, were included in book No. 5 of the gazette for 2023, released by the Council of Ministers on June 30.

In the first document, Hun Manith and four others were given ranks equivalent to minister. The four others are Chhiv Yiseang, a Foreign Affairs Ministry official; Pan Khem Bunthorn, an official in the prime minister’s cabinet; Slat Sopheap; and Hak Sokhay. All five received their new ranks in addition to their current positions.

Hun Manith currently heads the Defence Ministry’s intelligence department. He was also recently appointed a deputy commander in the armed forces, according to a government sub-decree from March.

The second document appointed tycoon Ly Yong Phat to be a personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen with a rank equivalent to minister and no salary.

Ly Yong Phat is a senator for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, and is known for his businesses spanning satellite city developments, casinos, a zoo, television and sugar plantations.

He is also president of the newly formed Cambodia Oknha Association.