Anti-human trafficking police in Banteay Meanchey province sent a man to court yesterday to face charges of illegally smuggling people across the Thai border, police officials said.

Sin Va, a deputy director of the provincial anti-human trafficking unit, said the suspect, 40-year-old Som Chantha, was arrested at the Poipet border checkpoint after Thai authorities alerted Cambodian police to his presence.

“Thai authorities sent a picture of him to Cambodian authorities, saying that he took people to Thailand illegally,” he said.

He added that after a police investigation, police found 16 complaints against Som Chantha filed with both Thai and and Cambodian authorities accusing him of human trafficking.

“Some complaints were for kidnapping, and some accused him of being a broker.”

According to police, Som Chantha denied the charges during police questioning.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at [email protected]