Former military police officer and alleged timber trader Sou Marith and three of his associates were yesterday charged with timber smuggling and possession of illegal weapons and placed in pre-trial detention at the Mondulkiri Provincial Prison.

Mondulkiri provincial prosecutor Long Hok Meng said: “The four people were charged with collecting forestry products. But only he [Marith] is also charged with possessing a weapon illegally.”

Marith and the three men were arrested on Wednesday after authorities intercepted them in a black Lexus loaded with eight pieces of thnong wood.

Marith’s capture came nearly two years after an incident in May 2014 in which Keo Seima district authorities intercepted his timber-laden Lexus and the ex-cop pointed a gun at the district governor’s head.

His arrest on Wednesday came only after a second warrant was issued in February this year when Marith fled after firing warning shots at authorities that followed a car carrying timber to his home.