Neth Savoeun, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's nephew-in-law, was officially sworn in as National Police Commissioner in Phnom Penh on Friday to replace his predecessor Hok Lundy, who died in a helicopter crash on November 9.

Cambodian King Norordom Sihamoni had signed a royal decree to appoint him as police chief in accordance with the request of Hun Sen, said a government statement.

Meanwhile, Neth was promoted to be four-star general and some of his colleagues became his deputies.

"I will be determined to follow the orders from the government, including the Interior Ministry, and the ideas of Hok Lundy. I will strive for great achievement for our police work," he said at the swear-in ceremony.

"I will fight against corruption, human trafficking, terrorism, cross-border crimes, youth gangsters and other vice, and seek justice for the people and the society," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng presided over the official swear-in ceremony.

Earlier this month, Hun Sen defended the nomination of Neth Savoeun as the kingdom's top cop, saying that he was the right man to be police chief, because he worked in the police force for most of his life and he was the one right below Hok Lundy.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2008)