Journalist Nabbed for Extortion

A local journalist in Pursat province was arrested on Friday for allegedly extorting money from village residents, demanding money from them in exchange for not reporting their illegal transportation of timber to authorities. Lieutenant Colonel Kong Leng, deputy chief of the Pursat provincial police, said members of his squad worked with Battambang provincial police to finally arrest the suspect after residents reported in 2013 that Park Sina, 32, was asking every car in a certain area for $100 in exchange for not writing about their alleged illegal logging in the Veal Entry newspaper or calling the police.
 

Residents of Prongil commune, in Pursat province’s Kravanh district, sued Mr. Sina after he threatened to report them if they did not pay him. Once they gave him the money, he fled to Battambang province’s Tuol Ta Ek district. Lt. Col. Leng said the Pursat provincial court issued a warrant for his arrest on July 13 once police realized he was living in Battambang. The court charged him with “threat accompanied by extortion” under article 232 of the Criminal Code and he faces up to two years in prison.
 

“He was arrested in accordance with the Pursat provincial court’s warrant for his arrest in 2013,” he told Khmer Times by telephone. “He was charged by Pursat provincial court’s prosecutor with threat accompanied by extortion. But he fled to hide and work in Battambang province.” He added that the suspect now has been sent to the court for questioning.

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