Land encroachment crime reported in Pursat
Following the departure of the former governor of the province, authorities reported a resurgence in land encroachment cases.
According to the authorities, land encroachment is taking place in the Thmor Da area, Veal Veng district, Pursat after the previous governor, Mao Thunin, was reassigned. They are threatening legal actions against those who are involved in the encroachment into state land.
The warning came after a man, identified as Ray Kan, repeatedly encroached into a plot of land at Ekpheap Village, Thmor Da Commune, Veal Veng district. This plot of land is located in a remote area and was given by the state to a private company as the location to develop agro-industrial crops and a special economic zone.
The development and construction of a national road in the area led to many people choosing to settle there. This mass settlement of people gave rise to several land disputes.
The frequent violator, Ray Kan, was a senior Khmer Rouge soldier and claimed that he owned the land since 1996 when he was still a soldier during the period when the Khmer Rouge had control of the area. Inspections by government officials discredited his claims.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES