Enforcement

FIFTY percent of the fine for illegally trafficking animals or animal products is now given back to the person who first issued the ticket in an attempt to fight corruption among government officials, according to a joint declaration of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from earlier this year. Hak Piseth, the deputy director at the Ministry of Agriculture's animal health and production department, said on Wednesday the decision could help avoid bribery and corruption, adding that the typical fine for trafficking animals varies from one million to five million riels (US$250 - US$1,250) depending the severity of the crime.