AP
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: 2 Cambodian soldiers face up to 10 years in jail each if convicted for allegedly trafficking more than 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of tortoises, a court officer said Friday (Aug 17th).
The two men are being detained after they were formally charged with illegal transportation of the animals Thursday (Aug 16th), said Pen Sarath, a provincial court prosecutor.
He identified the men as Phi Sakada, 31, and Thorn Vannak, 28.
Pen Sarath said the two men had told him that the tortoises were smuggled from Thailand.
The two men were transporting 51 tortoises - each weighed between 5 kilograms to 15 kilograms - in a car from a northwestern province to the capital Phnom Penh, said Nhep Dam, a military police officer in Pursat province, where the pair were arrested Tuesday (Aug 14th).
He said it was not clear what the tortoises were intended for. The two men have told investigators they had been hired by another man to transport the animals from Banteay Meanchey, near the Thai border, to Phnom Penh, Nhep Dam said.
The tortoises were released into the wild Thursday, officials said.
The two men would remain under detention at Pursat provincial prison for up to six months pending further investigation and subsequent trial, the prosecutor said.
Pursat province is about 165 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh.
The two men are being detained after they were formally charged with illegal transportation of the animals Thursday (Aug 16th), said Pen Sarath, a provincial court prosecutor.
He identified the men as Phi Sakada, 31, and Thorn Vannak, 28.
Pen Sarath said the two men had told him that the tortoises were smuggled from Thailand.
The two men were transporting 51 tortoises - each weighed between 5 kilograms to 15 kilograms - in a car from a northwestern province to the capital Phnom Penh, said Nhep Dam, a military police officer in Pursat province, where the pair were arrested Tuesday (Aug 14th).
He said it was not clear what the tortoises were intended for. The two men have told investigators they had been hired by another man to transport the animals from Banteay Meanchey, near the Thai border, to Phnom Penh, Nhep Dam said.
The tortoises were released into the wild Thursday, officials said.
The two men would remain under detention at Pursat provincial prison for up to six months pending further investigation and subsequent trial, the prosecutor said.
Pursat province is about 165 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh.
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