Three Men Charged With Illegal Logging in Pursat Sanctuary

2 January 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Crime and law enforcement / Forest policy and administration / Forest products / Forests and forestry / Judiciary and courts / Land / Law and judiciary / Logging and timber
Chab Seath / Nhan Dim / O'Som commune / Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary / Pursat Provincial Court

The Pursat Provincial Court on Tuesday charged three men with illegally clearing forest inside a protected wildlife sanctuary, and authorities are still searching for the man they were allegedly working for, officials said Wednesday. Provincial prosecutor Tan Seihak Dechak said the three charged men—Pak Im, 41, Kong Puth, 20, and Roeun Rob, 31—were arrested on Monday while logging illegally inside the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, which borders Thailand. … The crime carries a penalty of five to 10 years in prison. … Chab Seath, the sanctuary’s director, said the three men had clear-cut about 5 hectares inside Veal Veng district’s O’Som commune and that they were working for a man named Nhan Dim. … Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor for rights group Adhoc, said it was not fair for the court to prosecute the three men when so many high-ranking officials and powerful businessmen go unpunished for far greater forest crimes. …

 Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/three-men-charged-with-illegal-logging-in-pursat-sanctuary-49865/