Four men were sent to court yesterday to face charges they illegally cleared state forest land in Kratie province on behalf of an unknown businessman and possessed an unlicensed assault rifle, police said.

Captain But Noeun, deputy police chief of Snuol district, said Pheang Kosal, 30, Him Yee, 43, Chin Vong, 49, and Peak Mab, 35, were arrested by police during a raid on an illegal farm in Sre Char commune’s Lovear village on June 17.

“They were arrested while they were hired to clear the state forests in prohibited areas of land in the province,” he said.

The men, who had been caught clearing two hectares of land while possessing an AK-47 assault rifle and 91 bullets, face jail terms of at least three years each if found guilty.

Toch Sokhoeun, president of Kratie provincial court and Chath Soreaksmey, the general prosecutor, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The four accused could also not be reached.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]