Four villagers accused of masterminding the theft and intentional damage of property belonging to Cheat Aphiwat Co Ltd in a land dispute will have another month to prepare for trial after right groups Adhoc garnered them a delay yesterday.

A village chief and three other villagers from Banteay Ampil district’s Rumdul Chas village sought Adhoc’s legal assistance last month after they were sued by the Cheat company, with which they are involved in a land dispute, and sent a provincial court summons to a trial intended to begin today.

Village chief Peng Oun told the Post that villagers demonstrated against the company in May 2011 after Cheat brought in bulldozers to clear land granted in a government concession without notifying the villagers.

“The villagers took four metal-cutting machines and a water container from the company,” Oun said. “I tried to stop them, but they ignored me.”

An Adhoc-provided lawyer, Hou Chheng Aon, said he was able to secure the delay as he had only just been appointed to the case.

To contact the reporter on this story: Phak Seangly at [email protected]