The World Bank on Friday praised the Cambodian government for its prosecutions of 11 people in illegal logging case.
"The World Bank is encouraged that the government of Cambodia has successfully prosecuted the illegal logging cases recently presented in the Phnom Penh municipal court," the statement of the World Bank Cambodia said.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court handed out sentences of between five and seven years Thursday to 11 policemen and forestry officials for their involvement in a massive illegal logging operation in Ratanakiri province's Virachey National Park in 2004.
Presiding judge Ke Sokhan delivered the verdict, sentencing former park ranger Yim Sath, local police officials Proek Kateap, Nhay Lumbak and In Ratha to five years in prison. Seven other officials who are currently at large received sentences in absentia from six to seven years in prison.
The Ministry of Environment filed the lawsuit against the defendants in November 2004 after the ministry itself and World Bank representatives uncovered a massive logging operation in the Dragon's Tail and O'Yoeul region. It is estimated that the deforestation of 5,016 hectares of forest land could cost Cambodia over 15 million U.S. dollars.
"The undeniable evidence proves they really were accomplices and received bribes when they were on duty," Ke Sokhan told the courtroom.
Yin Kim Sean, the Environment Ministry's secretary of state, said that the ministry will continue to work with the court to punish those thought most responsible for the logging operation.
Source: Xinhua
"The World Bank is encouraged that the government of Cambodia has successfully prosecuted the illegal logging cases recently presented in the Phnom Penh municipal court," the statement of the World Bank Cambodia said.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court handed out sentences of between five and seven years Thursday to 11 policemen and forestry officials for their involvement in a massive illegal logging operation in Ratanakiri province's Virachey National Park in 2004.
Presiding judge Ke Sokhan delivered the verdict, sentencing former park ranger Yim Sath, local police officials Proek Kateap, Nhay Lumbak and In Ratha to five years in prison. Seven other officials who are currently at large received sentences in absentia from six to seven years in prison.
The Ministry of Environment filed the lawsuit against the defendants in November 2004 after the ministry itself and World Bank representatives uncovered a massive logging operation in the Dragon's Tail and O'Yoeul region. It is estimated that the deforestation of 5,016 hectares of forest land could cost Cambodia over 15 million U.S. dollars.
"The undeniable evidence proves they really were accomplices and received bribes when they were on duty," Ke Sokhan told the courtroom.
Yin Kim Sean, the Environment Ministry's secretary of state, said that the ministry will continue to work with the court to punish those thought most responsible for the logging operation.
Source: Xinhua
1 comment:
It is too late baby cause too much damage had been done!ahahah
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