Environmental Journalist Charged for Clearing Forest Land, Incitement, Which He Denies
A journalist with Intri Plus News, who often reported on environmental issues in Stung Treng province, has been charged by the provincial court for incitement and encroaching on forest land, according to the journalist’s lawyer.
On September 17, 2024, the lawyer said the journalist was questioned by the provincial court on charges of incitement to commit a felony by encroaching on forest land. He is alleged to have committed the offense in 2023 and in June 2024 in Sam Ang Commune, Thala Borivat district, Stung Treng Province. The journalist has been placed under judicial supervision.
The journalist, who is also an environmental activist, denied the allegations and said the legal action against him was related to his reports, which impacted certain individuals’ benefits.
Background
Before being charged, the journalist was summoned and questioned for eight hours by the provincial military police on June 15, 2024, following a complaint made by Ke Kolsophea, owner of Lim Vatey Co, which operates a marble business in the province.
The company filed a lawsuit against the journalist for violation of privacy under Article 302 of Criminal Code, after having allegedly committed the offense on May 16, 2024. He was accused of entering the company’s area and taking pictures inside the premises.
However, the journalist said he entered the Phnom Chum Rok Sat’s community forest after villagers reported illegal logging. The journalist’s phone was confiscated during questioning, and his pictures and videos deleted. He was later asked to apologize to the company in public.
On August 20, 2024, the journalist was ordered by Phon Vanna, investigating judge of Stung Treng provincial court, to appear in court on September 17, 2024, on charges of encroaching on forest land and incitement. He was alleged to have committed the act in O’Chhkot area in Chhaeb-Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary at Sam Ang commune, Thala Borivat district, Stung Treng province.
Speaking to Mongabay, a spokesperson of the provincial court said the legal action against the journalist was based on evidence but he was not able to provide details.
This is not the first criminal case against the journalist. To date, he has five different legal cases, a majority of them the same charges. In September 2023, he was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of encroaching forest land. The case has reached the Supreme Court where his appeal will be heard.