WOOD processing in a prison in Ratanakkiri has been halted  by the province's governor following allegations that the workshops used illegal timber and overworked inmates.

Governor Moeung Poy said he ordered the closure because the prison had "many problems".

However, the head of the facility, Ngin Nel, was adamant that the prison operated the workshops "absolutely legally".

He said that the prison had since switched to having prisoners plant vegetables and sew fishing nets to earn income for themselves and the prison. Prisoners are allowed to keep one-fifth of the profit from selling the merchandise.