A village representative from Kampong Cham province’s Memot district was released from prison yesterday after residents campaigned for his release by blocking National Road 7.

Ly Leang, a 53-year-old who represents Sre Som Chas village in Kompoan commune, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with violent acts and infringing on private property.

The village’s 136 families have been locked in a land dispute with the province after a 400-hectare land concession was given to three individuals, whose identities remain unknown to the affected families.

The actions leading to Ly Leang’s charges were not provided by the provincial court’s deputy prosecutor.

Ly Leang said he was arrested on Wednesday morning when returning home from a market. Four military police officials, he said, stopped his motorbike, handcuffed him and put him in a car.

Muong Sarin, deputy prosecutor at Kampong Cham Provincial Court, said the authorities agreed to release Ly Leang as part of a negotiation to have the villagers stop the road blockage.