Mob confronts mines officials in Mondulkiri

Four Mondulkiri mines and energy officials and nine provincial military police officers were confronted by an angry mob of 200 armed villagers allegedly mobilised by a soldier and his wife when the officials showed up to crack down on an illegal gold mining site, an official said yesterday.

The ordeal took place at about 2am on Saturday, and sent the officials running for safety while they called for backup, said San Sarith, director of the Mondulkiri Department of Mines and Energy, who was part of the crackdown team.

According to Sarith and a copy of the police report, the operation in Keo Seima district led to the arrest of four suspects: excavator drivers Yem Tha and Moung Sophanha; excavator owner So Mana; and Sam Yet, the owner of the site and wife of soldier Yu Sam Mech, of the Regiment 1 military base in the province.

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