LAND DISPUTE

The family of a pregnant woman detained in connection with a land dispute in Oddar Meanchey province say they are worried about her health while in custody. Huoy Mai, 46, was arrested on Saturday after being accused of illegally cutting down trees on land at the centre of an ongoing dispute with the Angkor Sugar Company, owned by CPP Senator Ly Yongphat. An Srean, Huoy Mai’s husband and a community representative, said he was worried about the health of his wife, who is five months pregnant. “Before her arrest she was reluctant to eat, so I don’t know what will happen to her while she is detained in prison,” he said. In early October, armed authorities bulldozed the property and burned the houses of 214 families living on a 1,500-hectare plot claimed by Angkor Sugar. Ty Sovinthal, a Siem Reap court prosecutor, said Huoy Mai would be remanded into custody pending further investigation. “Nobody knows that she is pregnant, but it doesn’t matter because in the prison they have good health services,” he said. “If she has any problems, they will report it to me.”