Six forestry officers convicted over logging

Written by DAP NEWS
http://www.dap-news.com

A Phnom Penh court on Friday convicted 6 forestry officers for taking bribes to allow logging of forests in Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom and Siem Riep provinces, a court official said.

The court convicted the men for offenses dating to November 12-17, 2006.

The 6 forestry officers convicted were identified as Em Vicheth from Prasat Balaing district, Kampong Thom, Chann Vichea from Kam Rieng district, Preah Vihear province, Hang Samrith from San Dann district, Kampong Thom province, Yours Sarith, an officer in both Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom provinces, Hem Savath of Kam Rieng and Tbeng Meanchey district, Preah Vihear province, and Chea Phally, an officer in both Prasat Boribo and San Dann districts, in Kampong Thom province. Two businessmen linked to the case, Chea Heng and Koy Kim Hour, were also identified. According reports from the vice director of Wildlife of Beung Pe in Chi Oak village, the Ministry of Environment and National Authority filed a complaint with the court over land grabbing and illegal logging, as the two businessmen cleared all the trees in the area.

After reports dating to November 12-17, 2006, the National Authority cooperated with Forestry Administrative Officers to confiscate evidence including 190 cubic meters of wood, one car, one truck, and many different logging tools, though no-one was initially arrested, the officer said.

Another mission uncovered the involvement of local officials and two businessmen jointly working together to deforest and appropriate land belonging to the Cambodian Government.

At the hearing, one of attendant said that “Ministry of Environment officers said Forestry Administrative officer’s wrongdoing, and the Forestry Administrative officers replied that we are not wrong, you are wrong, in conclusion, no body has mistake.”

“Maybe they both took bribes,” the attendant added.

“The Cambodian Government should draw them out to warn all corrupt men who try to do like this later.”

The Cambodian Government has ordered all officials in these regions to protect the forests and care for wildlife.