Forestry Official, Soldiers Agree to Settle Case Out of Court

27 February 2012
The Cambodia Daily
Environment and natural resources / Forest products / Forests and forestry / Judiciary and courts / Land / Law and judiciary / Logging and timber / Siem Reap

A Forestry Administration official has agreed to drop his complaint against three RACF soldiers he accused of shooting at him and fellow forestry officials in 2010 in exchange for $15,000, his lawyer said yesterday. However, officials for the Siem Reap Provincial Court and the Military Court – both of which investigated the case after Thorng Sokhay, Siem Reap Forestry Administration chief, filed a complaint against the three soldiers – said they will still follow through in their investigation into the shooting despite the large payout. In October 2010, three soldiers from RCAF’s fifth battalion – Captain Rum Sa Iem, warrant officer Chhum Chenda and Captain Roeurng Sarin – allegedly opened fire on Mr. Sokhay’s car after he confiscated a truck filled with illegally logged luxury wood from them.