The Mondulkiri Provincial Court has charged and detained a man accused of hunting the endangered Douc Langur monkey with an illegal weapon in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.
Provincial Department of Environment director Keo Sopheak identified the accused as Ly Ek, a 35-year-old Kratie province resident.
He said the accused was detained by Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary rangers on Friday while he hunted and shot the monkey.
Sopheak said after he shot and killed the monkey, the suspect used a motorbike to transport it out of the sanctuary. However, he was spotted and detained by rangers who were on patrol in the area.
“When detaining him, our rangers also checked his bag and confiscated evidence including the monkey and a homemade rifle,” Sopheak said.
Sopheak said the accused and evidence were taken to the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary ranger station for questioning before the case was forwarded to the court on Sunday.
He said when rangers questioned the accused, he claimed to be acting alone.
The court, Sopheak said, charged the accused with illegal hunting and weapon possession. He has been placed in pre-trail detention.
“According to the charges, the accused could face three to five years in prison, but because it was his first offence, he will likely face one to five years,” he said.
