Council of Ministers legal adviser Meas Sokun and her husband, soldier Kuch Prisovan, were charged and sent for pre-trial detention on Saturday after they were arrested last week for allegedly interfering in the work of youth volunteers sent for land measurement in Stung Treng province, a military official said yesterday.

Sao Sarem, deputy provincial commander of military police, said: “Both were detained (on Saturday) and charged with intimidation and unlawful interference in the performance of public functions.”

He said the charge was based on articles 607 and 609 of Cambodia’s penal code.

On Tuesday last week, five people, including the couple, were arrested and two days later three of them were released due to their limited roles in the incident.

The arrests were made after the couple allegedly stopped the volunteers from doing their job and tried to force them to measure land for private development.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at [email protected]