Members of the National Military Police posted to Kratie province to crack down on illegal logging, following accusations that local authorities failed to cooperate with anti-logging activist Tan Kimsour, who intercepted a truck loaded with illicit timber on November 26.
Kimsour explained that after conducting his own investigation, he managed to stop the truck in Kampong Cham commune, Sambor district, and then contacted local authorities for cooperation, but received no support or intervention.
“I waited the whole night for the officials, but no one came,” he complained.
“I have uncovered yet another case of illegal logging. We have repeatedly asked for local forces to come and assist, just for a few hours at least. This is not a small issue, yet it looks like the local leadership is indifferent and barely involved. This is exactly how our natural resources are being destroyed,” he added.
Instead of receiving cooperation, Kimsour said that Military Police officers unexpectedly came to question him on-site, asking for his mission documents — at the very location where he had intercepted the illegal timber truck. He claimed that Kratie Provincial Military Police Commander Sak Sarang wanted to summon him to the provincial headquarters.
“Even after I told him I was on duty, he still wanted me to come. What exactly is his intention?” he asked.
“I stay awake many nights tracking illegal logging, yet the provincial PM commander wants to summon me instead. I think the ones he should be calling in are the loggers, not me,” he said.
In response, national military police spokesperson Eng Hy said on November 26 that he was immediately informed of the situation by Kimsour. He added that National Military Police commander Sao Sokha had already instructed Sak Sarang, the Kratie commander, regarding the matter.
“The intelligence forces of the National Gendarmerie have been deployed to cooperate in controlling and cracking down on illegal logging in that area,” explained Hy.
Kimsour publicly thanked Hy for receiving his reports and intervening promptly.
Sak Sarang Reported to the Anti-Corruption Unit
A perceived lack of enforcement against illegal logging in Kratie has drawn frequent public criticism, leading to a formal complaint being filed to the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
As head of the Nature Lovers Youth Association, Kimsour said he had filed a complaint with the ACU in May, including evidence, requesting an investigation and legal action regarding alleged interference in natural resource crimes by Sarang.
He claimed in the complaint that Sarang had connections with a notorious timber trader named ‘Hach’ in Han Chey commune, Chhlong district, Kratie, facilitating illegal timber trafficking.
During an investigation on May 13, his team allegedly discovered large quantities of illegally stored timber belonging to trader Hach.
When questioned, Hach allegedly admitted on video that: “This timber was prepared for Col. Sak Sarang”.
“Moments later, Sak Sarang contacted our team to intervene (recorded audio available),” The complaint read.
After reviewing the evidence, the association concluded that the case indicated serious irregularities, suggesting that the provincial commander — whose duty is to suppress natural resource crimes — instead maintained close ties with a known timber trafficker, even working together in illegal timber operations.
Kimsour said the ACU has already accepted the complaint, but no follow-up response has been issued yet.
ACU spokesperson Soy Chanvichet said that details of unresolved complaints cannot be shared publicly.
“This is to protect the secrecy of the investigation, which could otherwise affect evidence collection,” he explained.
The Post attempted to contact Sarang for comment but received no answer.
Sarang, formerly commander of the Military Police in Mondulkiri and Kampong Chhnang provinces, was previously summoned by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court along with several other officers over an illegal logging scandal in Mondulkiri.
