Audio: Liam Cochrane speaks to Beth Eisenstaedt (ABC News)
23 May 2013
Australia Network News
An illegal logger in Cambodia has dropped an address book during a bust, leaving behind details of corrupt government officials and spying rangers.
The man fled after being intercepted by police over an illegal haul of rare rosewood in Koh Kong province earlier this month.
Beth Eisenstaedt from Wildlife Alliance helped coordinate the bust and has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia the perpetrator left behind an address book of his clients and an accounts book including details of bribes.
"We were able to confiscate the wood, and we stumbled upon this treasure trove of names and pay off amounts of all the people he had been dealing with, including some government officials," she said.
Ms Eisenstaedt says some government officials identified have already been dismissed while others remain working for the Forestry Administration.
"Cambodia is a developing country with a developing government and there's a lot of opportunity for corruption," she said.
"Building those relationships and supporting positive actions by the government is a really important part of what we do."
Several rangers working with Wildlife Alliance have been identified as spies for the loggers and are currently under 24-hour surveillance after being questioned.
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