Part Three: Alexander Trofimov

Koh Puos -Snake Island

The very first information Dr. Bunnaroeun An has received, in order to process a sale transaction for Koh Puos - Snake Island, that Alexander Trofimov, a Russian businessman, had entered in the final stage of buying the Island.

“It cannot be,” Dr. An whispered to himself. Trofimov had called him immediately.

Trofimov, who Dr. An had thought was his best friend, asked, “Why not?”

Now furious, he screamed over the phone, “You bought this island without telling me!” He continued, “You will never get Koh Puos! Stay away or you will have to face the consequences. That’s my country, and I will make sure you don’t get away with this.”

Trofimov was stunned. He didn’t understand what would lead Dr. An to react so aggressively. Trofimov was not under any obligation to inform Dr. An about his business plans, and the doctor’s reaction utterly bewildered him. The conversation had reached a stalemate, and it was clear that there was no sense in continuing, so he hung up.

When Trofimov hung up the phone, the doctor began to focus on the problem. It was clear that he could not give up the island, and a combination of fear and rage came over him, causing his hands to tremble and a red haze to cloud his vision.

He immediately told the President about his conversation with Trofimov. On various occasions he had told Trofimov that you had to have protection from locals when you went to Cambodia. At the time, he had offered to protect Trofimov himself, but now he didn’t know who Trofimov’s patron was. It was obvious that Trofimov was not afraid and was going to confidently stand his ground, even though he knew that Dr. An was very close to the President and that they were very powerful men.

It was true that everything in Cambodia was decided by who had more power or connections. That was the law. Even though the President of Senate was an old, sick man, he was still very powerful and respected.

who was convinced of that more than once. Even Prime Minister Hun Sen has given up some interests with respect to the President. But Trofimov, who has just recently come into power, said that he will not give up the Island and hung up on Dr. An. “I’ll grind him into powder.” Dr. An said in response.

This was in direct contrast to their previous relationship. Dr. An, had been very thankful to the President, who was kind and generous to him and Dr. Bunnaroeun on many occasions. Dr. An boasted many times that the President had given him a house. Dr. An had a sauna installed in this house especially for the President. Every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. the President would come and use it and to see Dr. Valentin.

Dr. Bunnaroeun introduced Mr. Valentine to the President. Mr. Valentin, is a quiet man, who used to work for the Soviet Military Intelligence as a psychic and parapsychologist. Mr. Valentin also came with his wife and son to Cambodia with the intention of establishing a private practice of Eastern medicine. Dr. Bunnaroeun had met Mr. Valentin at the one of the Russian Embassy reception where Russian Ambassador Tereshcenko introduced them.

Dr. Bunnaroeun was so happy at that introduction and promptly offered Mr. Valentin his house in exchange for medical attention to the president Samdech Chea Sim Chairman of Senate and the President of the Cambodian People’s Party. Mr. Sim was seriously ill with a kidney problem, and his wife was suffering from diabetes as well.

Valentine had never expected such a powerful client in his practice; at some point he even hesitated to give his assistance with those specific diagnoses. In the end, Dr. Bunnaroeun insisted everything would be okay. He suggested appropriate price to Valentin for charging the President and his wife for each session and that half of that price will apply for Valentin’ tenancy. Valentin and the Dr. also agreed that any patient refered to Valentin by the Dr. would result in a fifty-fifty split of profits.

In time their joint venture became very successful with good returns. Bunnaroeun was a master to present and recommend Valentin, saying ”The famous doctor from Russia who treats the president and his family.” This tactic worked perfectly early on, but soon many people realized that the price was too high and the progression is too low.

We have to give credit to Mr. President because he was a very good patient and believer. He came regularly every Wednesday, as the two doctors prescribed. In addition to Valentin’s hands which conjured over the body, there was sauna treatment as well. The gullible man who wanted to live more was having happiest time since he began to live in Cambodia.

Unfortunately, when I was able to show Mr. President’s medical record and have a discussion about his medical condition with some respected doctors from NYU, I was told that the sauna was completely wrong for treating the president. Regrettably, I didn’t have a chance to show to an American doctor Valentin’s hand and the herbs Valentin was giving to the old man. Now it does not matter of course if the president is still alive.

On the next day, which was Wednesday, Mr. President had shown up for his scheduled procedures at Dr. Bunnaroeun’s house. The doctor (Bunnaroeun) was obviously nervous and, following the dog’s attention, kept waiting for the news about the situation of Koh Puos Is.

Mr. President was, as usual, in his characteristic state of quietness. Having seen Valentin first for the session and after the sauna while having his tea, he said, “SOKIMEX Group has patronized your friend. I forgot what his name –“. “Trofimov”, Dr. Bunnaroeun whispered, and his brown face turned white . . .

Alexander Trofimov was smart and a decent businessman. Besides that, he was rich and had the ability, even as a foreigner, to establish business relations in Cambodia at the highest level. He quickly realized that Dr. Bunnaroeun belonged to a low class and friendship with him would lead him nowhere. Besides, Dr. was a simple street panhandler and he had already cost him a fortune on the girls Dr. supplied and the restaurants, where Trofimov always picked up the bill. When Dr. mentioned that Koh Puos - Snake Island was available for sale, Trofimov, being a bright businessman, clearly understood that he had to move to Sihanoukville and start working on the process of buying Koh Puos - Snake Island without telling Dr. Bunnaroeun., If any difficulties occured he would resolve them locally. That was a perfect decision because having a partnership with Dr. Bunnaroeun—a man with no money or respect for the president— on the project, would not progress his goal in any way.

Oknha Sok Kong is the Chairman of SOKIMEX Group, one of the largest and the most powerful companies in Cambodia.Another issue related to the friendship and the good will ofOknha Sok Kong is instructions to A. Trofimov to maintain strong confidence and to not give up Koh Puos Is., even to an opponent like Dr. Bunnaroeun An.

Only one year later did he regretted that, when he was charged and sentenced in March 2007 by a Cambodian court to 13 years in prison on charges of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

But at that time when he was accepted in the fraternity society of high-ranking CPP officials—the people who govern the Kingdom. For these people, having sex with underage people was considered as the norm even when discussing a society of low morals but with the huge potential of money and power.

Knowing A. Trofimov, I may say he is nothing but the scapegoat.

I know this because A. Trofimov approached me before his arrest proposing that I raise money for thedevelopment of the Koh Puos Island. I shared this information with Dr. Bunnaroeun, who told me that the Island will be soon available to us for free. I concluded to myself that probably Trofimov will not survive financially. But after Trofimov was charged and sentenced for 13 years, I understood clearly what Dr. Bunnaroeun meant.

In November 2007, I got a phone call from one known journalist Jay Rupert, who had shared with me that he is surprised that Mr. Trofimov couldn’t get away from this charges, being under the protection of such a powerful patrons, as everyone knows, that the Justice system in Cambodia is fully corrupted and case like this usually cost, not to more than $10,000 to get away, I had reply, probably somebody is very greedy and wants everything what he has - the Koh Puos Island.

Admitedly, Trofimov was smart enough, when he was arrested, to not list the other players that with whom he was colluding including Dr. Bunnaroeun. He also kept to himself the true, tragic and deeply sordid tale, that the circle in which he belongs bought children as sex slaves. That it was the parents themselves bringing their own children to this “auction”. Most assuredly, if he divulged that information he might be never survive as of today, or be able to take care of the assets which belong to him.

The whole country is known for child prostitution and pedophiles come from all over the world. You can see child prostitution on almost every street corner, and you will be approached by someone attempting to sell a child. Dr. Bunnaroeun brought me to legal night clubs, where I saw some hundreds of children waiting for their buyers or were picked as slaves by those whom one may see on TV as celebrities. That’s a fact and nobody may say differently.

I am sure that the mother of Trofimov’s victim, was paid. If she wasn’t paid, she was forced to testify against Trofimov. She would have to have been forced to testify against the man victimizing her daugher because the alternative was so dire. Her daughter was the family’s sole source of income. Without selling her daughter for sex, she, the mother (and the father) would have died of hunger.

I have raised a daughter and I have two grandchildren. That is why I want so desperately to change my country.

Anyway, Dr. Bunnaroeun felt terrible because he had already taken $70,000 money to speed up the process from V. Rabinovich and definitely he would never return him. Secondly he didn’t know what to say as he had failed in trying to make Mr Rabinovich believe that he and his patron had the most powerful gang in the Kingdom.

He telephoned Rabinovich: “Hello my dear comrades, I have some news for you. With that Island, Koh Puos, we have to wait as the President said, but the Cambodia People’s Party gave us an even better opportunity. General Ke Kimyan, Commander in Chief of The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, is in charge of a project to build a Satellite City on 265 hectares of land located at the northern edge of Phnom Penh Center, he wants to be a partner and have not too much in terms of returns and . . .”

Mr Rabinovich stopped him. “OK Bunnaroeun, I’m busy right now, let me think. My partners will contact you . . .”

Dr Bunnaroeun stood like a child waiting for his diaper to be changed, listening to the hollow beep of the telephone.

Mr. Rabinovich hesitated and thought for a minute, then pressed a button on the intercom to speak to his secretary: “Tanya, please connect me with Sergey Ivanovich”.

“Alpha?” A woman’s voice answered.

“Yes” Rabinovich replied.

Skorohvatov Sergei Ivanovich was President of the Association of Alpha, Group "A" KGB, better known in this world by the name “Alpha.” The main objective of this special unit was powerful operations to prevent terrorist acts.

After a few moments, the secretary’s voice was heard again.

“Mr. Rabinovich, Sergei Ivanovich is on the line”

Ivanovich’s hearty voice came on the line. “Vadim Zinovyevich, my dear, how many years has it been? How are you?;

“Thanks to God, everything is great, I have just got older...”

“Now come on, how old are you now?” Ivanovich replied in a friendly tone. “What can I do for you?”

“I'm your debtor, I do remember how you helped us to get on a foot when we might not to survive.”

V. Rabinovich: “I did what I have to do, the fact without you we can’t beat the terrorists.” They both laughed.

V. Rabinovich: “Recently, I had visited Cambodia for business. There were some opportunities there and one of the Government officials who present himself as a powerful man used to be at the program of foreign students in the Soviet Union during the end of eighties. Would you check him through your agency?”

Sergei Ivanovich laughing: “That’s all? For you anything; I thought you wanted me to send some forces over there, to clean them up a little bit.”

Both laugh.

V. Rabinovich: ”Eventually, we will. They have more than a million armed landmines. I asked the Ministry of Defense if there was anythying can we do to help them.”

Sergei Ivanovich: “Yes, I heard that; here is a pen. I’m ready, what is his name?”

V. Rabinovich took a piece of paper, looked and spelled it out in English, “B u n n a r o e u n An.”

Sergei Ivanovich: “No problem; how fast do you need this done?”

V. Rabinovich: “It’s not an emergency but as soon as you can.”

Sergei Ivanovich; “Will do. I know you’re a busy man and I don’t want to keep you on the phone. I’ll call you soon.”

V. Rabinovich; “Thank you, Sergei Ivanovich.”

Sergei Ivanovich: “Thanks to you for not forgetting about me, good day.”

V. Rabinovich – “Good day.”

Part Four: The Bon Bon World

To be continued