Locals say gendarmes ‘beat up timber hauler’

Two military police officials and a tractor driver in Preah Vihear have been accused of beating a timber hauler and injuring a female bystander following an argument over an alleged $200 shakedown.

On Tuesday afternoon, four men from Tbeng Meanchey district’s Pou commune who were hauling uprooted koki tree stumps from the protected Preah Rokar Forest were stopped by four military policemen in the commune.

The military police allegedly demanded 200,000 riel ($50) from each of the timber haulers in exchange for being allowed to go on hassle-free, according to community representative Pich Porn.

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