The deputy governor of Mondulkkiri province has denied his alleged involvement in a case where a man was arrested for transporting 5 tonnes of illegal explosives and then quickly released without charge.

Deputy Governor Svay Sam Eang said local police reported on Monday that a man was arrested for driving a home-made tractor carrying 5 tonnes of illegal explosives without a permit.

However, the man was later released after military police were able to provide two permits from the Ministry of Defence.

“Police released him after a military police officer handed over two copies of the permit letter,” Sam Eang said, adding that his alleged involvement was falsely reported in local media.

According to the permit, 2 tonnes of Porous Prilled Ammonium Nitrate and 500 kilograms of TAN Emulsion Explosive from the Ministry of Defence’s factory C-06 were being transported for Khim Sophal, a member of a local gold mining community.

The letter, signed by Chao Phirun, general director of the Department of Technical Materials, validated the permit.