Two men accused of posing as Royal Cambodian Armed Forces generals in order to trick villagers in Preah Vihear province had been charged at court on Saturday, police officials said yesterday.

Colonel Cheth Vanny, deputy chief of Battambang provincial police, told the Post the Preah Vihear Provincial Court had charged Taing Vantheang, also known as Reith, 50, and Kong Keo, 40, with fraud after they had convinced people they could be granted land in Thmarkol district’s Bansay Tren commune – if they paid the two “generals” for the privilege.

“They do not work with RCAF and are certainly not generals . . . They have been charged with fraud,” Vanny said.

Mean Lay, director of Battambang provincial minor police, said the two men had been arres-ted on Wednesday after complaints they were demanding copies of villagers’ IDs and money in exchange for the land concessions.

According to complaints, he said, the men had told villagers the provincial authority was distributing five hectares of land to each poor family and would include them in the deal for a pre-payment of $120.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]