A prosecutor at the Kampong Chhnang provincial court filed a complaint yesterday that accused a journalist from a local newspaper of defamation, after he published an article last year alleging the prosecutor had accepted bribes.

Court prosecutor Penh Vibol said yesterday that Kong Bun Thoen, reporter for Meatophum newspaper, wrote an article in November that accused him of returning trucks that had been confiscated for illegal logging to their owners in exchange for money.

“He accused me of taking money under the table and releasing illegal logging trucks, but it’s not true,” the prosecutor said.

Kong Bun Thoen said that the bribery allegations in his November story were factual.

“He is angry with me because I connected him with the release of illegal logging trucks for under-the-table money. He should contact me for corrections if I made a mistake, but instead he has filed a complaint against me,” the reporter said.