The Ratanakkiri provincial court has decided to end the case against Adhoc officer Pen Bunna and nine residents of Seda commune after they were charged with incitement to commit crimes.
Bunna, 56, and his associates were placed under the supervision of Judge Seng Simsorya last year.
The complainants are local and provincial officials who filed a complaint against Bunna and his associates after they first filed a lawsuit against the officials for allowing the clearing of more than 800ha of forest land in the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary.
In a letter dated January 6 that The Post obtained on Monday, Judge Simsorya notified Bunna and his associates that they will no longer have to appear before the court.
“The investigating judge decided that the investigation is over,” the letter said.
Ratanakkiri Provincial Court spokesman Keo Pisoth said on Monday that Judge Simsorya has closed the investigation.
“They will no longer be interrogated or required to appear in court because the plaintiffs and their legal team have run out of witnesses,” he said.
Bunna said on Monday that he was happy with the court’s decision and noted that the defence team had done an excellent job. The plaintiffs’ legal team was unable to find any fault in their actions and the court had no evidence against them.
“Despite the lawsuit, I have not stopped my work teaching the local community and filing complaints against those who commit forest crimes and natural resource offences,” Bunna said.
