Alleged deforestation at Phnom Tamao seen in a photo dated July 31. WILDLIFE ALLIANCE CAMBODIA
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has found no irregularities or any element of corruption involving a land swap deal in the Tamao mountain area near Kandoeng commune, Bati district in Takeo province.
The complaint of such irregularities was brought by Tim Kimsour, an environmental watchdog, who has since commented that he has no objection to ACU’s findings.
According to a letter by ACU head Om Yentieng in July, which was viewed by The Post on August 2, if in future Kimsour uncovers any other practices that might be corrupt, he is free to lodge another complaint with the unit.
The letter stated that ACU received Kimsour’s complaint on June 13, 2022 and proceeded to investigate the claims on June 17, but found no evidence of corruption.
Yentieng thanked Kimsour for reporting the case and raising concern over the irregularities, noting that the land swap falls under the administration which manages public and private state properties.
This, he said, is within the purview of the law on the control and management of state assets.
In the letter, Yentieng explained that the land swap provided the state institution with “favourable conditions”, including a new location with infrastructure and technical materials. The swap was also examined and assessed clearly by a commission.
Kimsour could not be reached for comment by The Post.
However, upon receiving the ACU reply in late July, Kimsour took to the social media where he published the letter and made some comments.
“I have no objection to the [reply by] ACU. I just wonder if Khmer Fresh Milk would clarify to me that it had not requested the transfer of ownership of the Tamao mountain land. Instead, they wrote a formal letter to the ACU that it had made the request,” Kimsour wrote on social media.
Chhor Rithy, CEO of Khmer Fresh Milk did not respond to questions on August 2.
Meanwhile, Ly Saveth, spokesman for the provincial administration, said so far the provincial administration has yet to receive any information regarding the land swap.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is the rightful agency. If it obtained permission from the government, it would follow the procedure according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Once every stage of registration is complete, it will reach our provincial authorities,” he added.
A May 17 letter by Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon, which was viewed by The Post, mentioned that the land swap would not affect the Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) or the 400 hectare wildlife sanctuary there.
The periphery of the area, which has a physical infrastructure on it, has a fence measuring 8,394 metres.
Sakhon said the land swap would not affect the assistance provided by Wildlife Alliance or the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Wildlife Alliance and the ministry.
Claire Baker-Munton, Wildlife Alliance communications officer, said on August 2 that the bulldozing of the Tamao mountain area has begun, but there is no confirmation on the scale of the land that will be bulldozed. Pictures with the July 31, 2022 time stamp show uprooted trees.
Bati district governor Phuon Chhim said the authorities have no information regarding the land clearing because the land swap is being handled by the ministry.
