Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - National commitee probes gold mining operations in Kratie

National commitee probes gold mining operations in Kratie

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Officials inspect an illegal​ ​​​mine operation in Kratie province. The Cambodia Time

National commitee probes gold mining operations in Kratie

The National Committee for Prevention and Crackdown on Natural Resource Crimes targeted an illegal gold mining operation in Kratie, marking the fourth such investigation in the area within a week.

Kratie deputy district governor Khan Chamnan, who also heads the committee, told The Post on Thursday that in early rainy season gold mining offences increase.

“On Thursday last week, I led joint forces to investigate four gold mining businesses in O’ Rolong area at Svay Chreah commune, in Snuol district. We detained three owners and built a court case,” Chamnan said.

With those gold mines shut down, he said the authorities bulldozed a pit used for illegal gold extraction. They then found seven other mining operations in the O’Tron area.

“The locations of the gold mining businesses in O’ Tron are old pits that are no longer used. The residents in this area have been digging for underground mines and using a type of acid to remove some metal mixtures from the gold.

“It is still illegal because those pits are owned by the Xing Yuan Kanng Yeak Co Ltd, which received a licence from the government to mine gold,” said Chamnan.

Roth Sola, the Kratie provincial deputy director for the department of mines and energy, told The Post that he has already sent the complaint file to the Kratie provincial prosecutor.

The court charged the three men involved in the O’ Salong case on Tuesday for operating a mining business without permission from the authorities. They are being held in pre-trial detention, Sola said.

The men are Lach Kimheng, Lach Kimhorng and Eoeu Seng from the Svay Chreah commune, Snuol district. The mining pits were dug secretly at a location licensed to Rithy Granite (Cambodia) Co. Ltd.

Kratie provincial court spokesperson Chea Sopheak told The Post that the court is investigating the illegal mining case in O’ Trot. But in this case, no one was detained while committing the offences and the suspects are suspected of being migrants.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former