Logging case transferred
province,” Bros said, adding that their involvement in the case facilitated the transfer.
He said that the case had already been transferred to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, with Y Rin, the Phnom Penh court’s administrator, confirming the case was now under its jurisdiction.
The investigation recommended nine of 11 National Police officials receive administrative disciplinary actions, but for Chum Rattanak, the National Police’s border police chief at O’Chum, and Leang Phearoth, the O’Huch border police chief, it recommended court charges.
Morm Vanda, spokesman of provincial court’s prosecutors, declined to comment, and Mondulkiri Provincial Deputy Police Chief Sou Sovan said his department had not conducted any investigation on the case besides punishing two of the 11.
Pen Bonnar, senior land and natural resources investigator at the rights group Adhoc, said the high-profile nature of the case, which was investigated by Military Police head Sao Sokha’s logging task force, and the involvement of multiple local officials meant it had to be transferred to ensure a fair trial.
“The crime is absolutely severe. Therefore, the provincial court will not be able to handle it and there will be no justice,” Bonnar said. “It is better to be prosecuted in Phnom Penh.”
However, environmental activist Ouch Leng said the transfer seemed like a delaying tactic and could potentially keep the accused out of court for a prolonged period of time.
“It shows clearly that this is corruption, but the court does not dare to take action. The court is reluctant and does not dare to take action on the timber traders who look down upon the Cambodia’s laws.”