The three conservationists shot dead last week accepted a bribe

The three conservationists shot dead in Mondulkiri province’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary last week reportedly agreed to accept a bribe in exchange for allowing the illegal logging, but still reported the incident. A detailed National Police report obtained yesterday said the shooting – which killed a forest ranger, a military police officer and a Wildlife Conservation Society official – involved a bribe of five million Vietnamese dong, or about $220, for not cracking down on illegal logging.

Mondulkiri Provincial Court on Monday charged Phal Penh, chief of the O’Rolear border post, Kert Veha, a military officer, and Kert Veta, a military commander, with premeditated murder. Three other suspects – Chheang Vannith, Lay Savy and Torn Theara – were charged with forestry crimes. All six are now in pretrial detention.

On January 18, according to the report, a Vietnamese man named only as Chin met with Mr Penh, Mr Theara, a border post police officer, and Mr Veta, deputy commander of platoon 3 of the provincial sub-military’s regiment 2. Mr Chin asked permission to take four motorbikes and two chainsaws to log in Pouyam village, in O’Raing district’s Sen Monorom commune, for one week and pay five million dong for each motorbike, read the report.

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