More than 200 slaughter­house operators in Kampong Chhnang province have ac­cused a government official of extorting 450,000 riel (US $110) from each of them under the pretense it would be used for a Liberation Day ceremony this Saturday.

Pork seller Im Lyseng, 50, said Moeung Sarath, director of the veterinary department in Rolea Ba’ier district, had forced all 208 slaughterhouse operators in the province to pay up.

“He threatened that he would not give us our new business licence if we did not agree to give the money,” Im Lyseng said.

However, Moe­ung Sarath said he had just been following orders from the director of the agri­culture department, Ngan Nany.

Ngan Nany could not be contacted yes­terday.

A pro­vincial agriculture depart­ment officer, who did not want to be named, said the department had filed a corruption com­plaint against Ngan Nany to the Anti-Cor­ruption Unit in March.