K Chhnang court to probe release in alleged land grab
THE Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court will summon officials from the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Cholkiri district officials to clarify why three villagers were released on April 19 after they were arrested the same day for allegedly clearing flooded forest land in Peam Chhkork commune’s Kbal Anlong village in the district.
Provincial court spokesperson Chhuon Sivin told
The Post on Monday that the arrest was made by deputy prosecutor Long Sitha and district police forces.
He said after the three were interrogated, t he prosecutor believed it to be a fisheries offence and handed them to fisheries of ficia ls to file a lega l case before t hey were sent to court.
“It is not known why the fisheries officials released the three without going through the prosecutor. Afterwards, the prosecutor summoned the fisheries officials to clarify the case,” Sivin said.
The of ficia ls, Siv in said, released the suspects, who are a ll from Cholkiri district, because the land they were accused of clearing belonged to them. He said the court is investigating t he matter and will summon the officia ls to test i f y.
Department director Ngin Hun denied that his officials had released the three and maintained that they had only received documents concerning the case.
“No one has the right to release people. My officials only received a report. They did not receive the suspects or any evidence.
“The people and ex hibits were at t he police station. My officia ls did not release the people and I have reported t hat to t he prosecutor,” Hun said.
He said when his officials went to inspect the cleared land, it had already been ploughed.
“So when the land was ploughed, the case we examined shows that they were not guilty. We did not punish them because they had ploughed their land.”
District police chief Khim Yong could not be reached for comment on Monday.