Officials from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) have announced that former Kampong Chhnang provincial governor Chhuor Chandoeun has returned 22 parcels of land to the state as a result of the the ACU’s investigation against him, which came after Prime Minister Hun Sen instructed the government to take strict action against those involved with flooded forest encroachment around Tonle Sap Lake.

Head of the ACU Om Yentieng revealed this in meetings with the current Kampong Chhnang provincial governor, Sun Sovannarith, and other provincial officials on July 20-21.

The meetings were held at the provincial administration offices to discuss the corruption complaints against Chandoeun.

The ACU did not say how large the total area of the 22 parcels of land are together in total.

Last December, Hun Sen ordered the ACU to probe the involvement of any government officials implicated in these crimes and he named Chhour Chandoeun as a probable guilty party in the illegal usurpation of more than 2,000ha of land belonging to the state, though Chandoeun has vigorously denied the allegations.