Ex-Prey Veng Provincial Councilor Jailed with Forgery and Defaming Governor of Preah Vihear province


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

A former government official was charged and detained by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for allegedly forging land documents and defaming the Preah Vihear Provincial Governor and his wife by alleging that “both stole 84 hectares of his lands” by forging the land titles in Prey Veng province last year.

A court document  issued by the investigating judge San Bunthoeun identified the accused as Phe Im, 67, a former Prey Veng provincial councilor living in Kamchay Mear district’s Trabek commune.

The accused was charged with “public defamation, forgery of public document and use of forged public document” under Articles 305,629 and 630 of the Criminal Code.

If convicted, he faces a jail term of between five and 10 years. 

Im is now in pre-trial detention in Prey Sar Prison, Phnom Penh. 

Ministry of Interior Penal Police Department  police officer said  that Im was sued by Prak Sovann, the governor of Preah Vihear province, and his wife Sar Cheng.  

Police officer said that on October 3 last year, the accused complained to Interior Minister Sar Khent that Sovann and Cheng grabbed 84 hectares of his farm land in Kamchay Mear district. 

He said that in the complaint, Im alleged that in 1998 he hired Sovann and his (Sovann) friends to prepare and buy a total of 84 hectares of farming land from villagers in Krabao commune. 

Im alleged that his land was now occupied by Sovann and Cheng illegally.

Lt Col Sothear said Im had also submitted the land titles of the 84 hectares as well as other related documents to Kheng.  

He said the accused has also informed a local newspaper which published a story on the alleged land grab. 

He added that after receiving Im’s complaint, the Ministry of Interior established a joint-working-committee to study and investigate the case.

“The investigations found, after check with relevant officials and villagers, that Im had forged the land titles provided in his complaint,” he noted. “After knowing about the complaint, Sovann and Cheng lodged a lawsuit against Im with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for defamation through forging and using public documents.”

 He added that Im was arrested in accordance with a court arrest warrant accusing him of forging the documents and defaming Sovann and Cheng.

 

 

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