“Mastermind” of Cambodia’s Pursat forestry crime identified and on the run

PHNOM PENH: Authorities are searching for the alleged mastermind of serious forestry crimes in Pursat province. Koh Sophy, also known as Ta Hoy, has been summoned to appear in the provincial court for questioning.

He was summoned to respond to allegations that for years he colluded with authorities to illegally cut down timber, according to Pursat provincial governor Khoy Rida.

The court summons follows a series of investigations into large-scale forest crimes inside the Oral Wildlife Reserve, Phnom Kravanh district of Pursat and other nearby areas, carried out by a provincial working group.

The repression followed a request for intervention from the Association of Young Nature Lovers.

At least 40 cubic meters of cut wood were confiscated during the operation.

“We found some wood hidden in the forest. We are still gathering evidence, but the court has issued a summons, ordering (Ta Hoy) to appear for questioning on the charges brought by the provincial forestry administration,” the governor said.

“We have been working for years to identify the person responsible for these forest crimes. For him to get away with it, he must have colluded with certain officials, even if we have not yet identified them.

“We first summoned Ta Hoy, but he fled: perhaps he did not receive the summons. He had already hired a lawyer, so he must have expected legal action “, he added.

Tan Kimsour, president of the youth association, said he was informed of the illegal transportation of wood by three trucks in the Damnak Trayeung area, Pro Ngel commune, Phnom Kravanh district, on May 27.

His team followed up and went to inspect the site the next day, accompanied by two environmental rangers.

They saw no suspects, but found extensive evidence of illegal logging, including felled trees and milled lumber, totaling about 30 cubic meters.

Additionally, they also discovered numerous temporary shelters used by loggers, as well as chainsaws and other machinery.

“In the years I have worked to protect forests, I have never seen such a huge tragedy. I'm really sorry for the forest in this area.

“From one mountain to another, there are many fallen logs and the traces left by Ta Hoy’s trucks,” Kimsour explained.

The patrol returned from the forest the same day and immediately called the governor for additional support.

On May 31, Governor Rida led a joint mission of 30 police, military police and forest rangers to the base of the mountain, where they joined Kimsour's team.

The governor asked the task force to immediately begin patrolling the forest.

By following the tracks left by the trucks, the patrol was able to discover one of the dilapidated cutting trucks used by the loggers, hidden in the brush.

Lacking the means to seize the vehicle or tow it out of the forest, they collected firewood and burned it, to ensure that the attackers could not return and recover the vehicle.

The joint task force spent a total of six days and nights exploring the forest and mountains to ensure a thorough search was conducted.

Kimsour said he spent two more days interviewing area residents about the perpetrators and investigating where remaining logging trucks could be stored.

“Every mountain is littered with evidence of large trees being felled.

“This is Ta Hoy's doing, but I believe he could not have committed these crimes of this magnitude without conspiring with a number of local officials,” he said.

“We have worked hard for years to stop these crimes. All officials involved in a conspiracy to allow these forest crimes to take place must be held accountable under the law. I hope there will be justice for the forest in this region,” he added.

The provincial governor said he regularly led task forces to crack down on illegal logging, but those involved were arrogant and continued to commit the same crimes.

He explained that the crimes committed in the oral shrine could not have been committed without the connivance of the residents of the area.

He noted that although some timber was transported on homemade motorbikes or trucks, suggesting small-scale family activities, the total amount of timber felled and removed was large-scale.

“This operation used a wide range of transportation methods. Trucks were hidden in the forest, but we found at least one and destroyed it,” he said.

“Ta Hoy is the mastermind behind all this, but some officials must have colluded with him. We will wait to see the courts investigate these cases one by one,” he added.

Rida explained that the crackdown was being carried out carefully, to ensure compliance with legal procedures, because if the group were allowed to continue, it would not only damage natural resources, but challenge the leadership of the authorities.

He expressed his joy at the identification of the target, stressing that his gang has caused a lot of problems and made others unhappy, while the provincial authorities are doing everything they can to resolve the problems of the 500 thousand inhabitants of Province.

“(Ta Hoy) is the biggest target in the province, and I have been informed that he has committed similar crimes in other provinces.

“The courts ruled that his assets came from deforestation, a form of money laundering. Wait and see, (we) will not allow them to destroy the nation… This is a forest crime,” he said. -he declares.

Kheang Somony, director of the administrative secretariat of the Pursat provincial court, said he was unaware of the case and was unable to speak because he was attending a workshop in Phnom Penh.

Phan Sokunthong, a spokesperson for the provincial prosecutor, could not be reached for comment.

It should be noted that the provincial police issued a notice on June 5 rejecting allegations of forest crimes reported in local media.

The letter said the provincial police rapid response team investigated the allegations and found Ta Hoy and another individual known as Mao.

“Both individuals rejected the media allegations and demanded that the police provide them with justice,” the letter said, adding that the team inspected the Ta Hoy plantation but found no timber. – The Phnom Penh Post/ANN