Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Court returns disputed land to firm in Preah Vihear

Court returns disputed land to firm in Preah Vihear

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Authorities enforce the verdict in Rovieng district on May 13. SUPPLIED

Court returns disputed land to firm in Preah Vihear

A joint force, acting on the Preah Vihear Provincial Court order, on May 13 confiscated 23.4ha of state land from an individual and returned it to Mekong Rubber Plantation Co Ltd after he was judged to have illegally occupied the land – which had been granted to the company as an economic land concession (ELC).

In executing the court’s verdict, they also arrested three suspects after discovering a large stock of illegal timber stock on the land illegally occupied by Chea Sengkun in Chi Ork village of Rovieng district’s Romny commune.

Police are currently searching for Sengkun, who has been sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison.

Som Sivutha, director of the Forestry Administration’s (FA) Rovieng district cantonment, identified the trio as Kong Heng, 54, from Balaing commune’s Ta Trav village of Kampong Thom province’s Baray district; So Thou, 21, and Heng Chamroeun, 13, both from Kien Svay district’s Dei Ith commune of Kandal province.

“The arrests were made after the joint force found several cubic metres of illegal forest products and by-products on a plot of land illegally occupied by Chea Sengkun. The three suspects initially appeared to be staying there,” he said.

Sivatha added that police found 106 pieces of ta sek timber, almost equal to 6 cubic metres. The timber is currently being stored on the cantonment’s premises. The trio were sent to court for further questioning and were later released.

Deputy prosecutor Kim Samleng confirmed to The Post on May 16 that the three men were allowed to return to their work on May 14 after questioning determined that they were not responsible for the offence.

He added that the trio claimed to be rubber plantation workers and cooks for the Mekong Rubber Plantation and only went to sleep there because they saw that the sawmills were empty.

Samleng said police are currently searching for Chea Sengkun in accordance with an arrest warrant issued by Judge Yut Ponleu on May 5, after the verdict dated January 11 came into force.

Sengkun was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison by Judge Ponleu for “infringements on ownership and other legal rights to immovable property”.

MOST VIEWED

  • Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up

    The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six

  • Manet: Cambodia safe for travel

    Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a

  • UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy

    Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,

  • Cambodia pivots to solar, wind energy

    Cambodia is planning a move towards solar and wind energy to meet its rising power demands, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. On the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week event held recently, Rottanak emphasised the urgency of diversifying Cambodia’s

  • Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties

    In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the

  • Manet calls for Cambodia’s railways to get back on track

    Prime Minister Hun Manet has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite studies into upgrades to the Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk railway line. He suggested that the maximum speed on the line should be increased to 80km/h, in order to expedite the transportation of