Alleged victims in seven separate land disputes in Kampong Cham province yesterday agreed to file a petition to the provincial governor, following a meeting with rights group Adhoc.

One of the cases dates back to an alleged 1996 land grab by tycoon Sao Serey Mony, in which he allegedly bought 100 hectares in Memot district, said Ork Toch, 56, who attended yesterday’s meeting.

The families brought their case to court once, but the judge ruled in favour of Serey Mony, and after student land-measuring volunteers arrived last year, it was again found to be Serey Mony’s property.

“The district cadastral … demanded us to pay $3,000 per hectare if we wanted the land back,” Toch said.

Kampong Cham governor Lun Lim Thay yesterday said he was aware of the dispute, but had not heard about the $3,000-per-hectare demand.

Adhoc coordinator Neang Sovath told villagers to file a petition requesting that officials reassess the situation.