Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ex-district police chief under probe over land encroachment in Koh Kong

Ex-district police chief under probe over land encroachment in Koh Kong

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Land clearance in Koh Kong’s Sre Ambel district on Saturday. SUPPLIED

Ex-district police chief under probe over land encroachment in Koh Kong

Sre Ambel district authorities in Koh Kong province are investigating a case involving a former district police chief who is allegedly encroaching on forest land in Dang Peng commune’s Veal Pouch village.

District governor Chea Chankanha said on August 10 that at a meeting discussing land clearing accusations against former Sre Ambel police chief Mar Ty on August 7, he took the step of assigning officials to investigate the matter.

“I cannot tell you what happened, because our officials are now investigating and it would be inappropriate to discuss it until they report back, but I’ll let you know later,” he said.

Dang Peng commune chief Ty Yourng said on August 10 that the land clearing activity was happening at the border of Dang Peng and Chi Khor Leu communes.

Chi Khor Leu commune chief Sun Kheang said he went to the site with district authorities on August 10, but he did not know how the case should be resolved.

He said that the land at that location was allocated by the provincial authorities to people who were already relying on it previously, but the allocation was done improperly without land titles.

“When I asked the province to allocate land to these people, it was more than 3,000 ha total, including the multi-use areas, forest cover and corridor projects nearby. Most of the affected people have cashew plantations,” he said.

Koh Kong provincial deputy governor and spokesman Sok Sothy said on August 10 that he too was awaiting the results of the investigation undertaken by the district authorities.

“There is a sub-decree to allocate the land for these people. But the problem is that the subsequent development of the land occurred without any permission from the provincial authorities.

“The land is not in any national park and it is not state land, because the government had already cut it out and made it available for private ownership. This means that it might actually be his land – he may have bought it from those people,” he said, referring to Mar Ty and residents in the area.

He said the owner needs to apply for a land title before they develop the land and they must then develop it properly without encroaching on other people’s lands.

Mar Ty could not be reached for comment.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the