A Kratie district Forestry Administration official was transferred to another district in the province amid rumours, reported in local media, of his involvement in illegal logging.

Buy Ratana, chief of the Forestry Administration in Kratie district, in Kratie province, will transfer to the same position in Prek Prasap district next week. Local media yesterday reported allegations that Ratana was helping transport illegal timber to Vietnam.

Ratana couldn’t be reached for comment, but Sor Chamrong, provincial governor, said Ratana had been transferred because he had completed his three-year mandate in Kratie district, and denied the allegations.

“There is nothing related to him engaging in illegal transportation [of timber],” he said. “It’s useless to keep digging . . . Writing about this is not beneficial – it could affect the official’s reputation.”

However, Cheak Mengheang, deputy provincial governor, said provincial authorities have the right to transfer staff if they have done something inappropriate, declining to say what Ratana had done that was inappropriate or if the transfer was related to the allegations.

He also said the provincial Agriculture Department had requested the transfer, though the department’s director denied this.