Four Cambodians have been released and deported by the Thai authorities after they were detained for three months on charges of illegally entering the country to log rosewood, border officials announced yesterday.

Communications officers at Choam Sa Ngoam international checkpoint said Thai authorities on Monday returned the suspects, aged between 24 and 59 years, from a prison in Sisaket province.

Touch Ra, director of Cambodia-Thailand Border Communication, said Thai officials reported having arrested the men on August 16 after finding them illegally felling timber in Phu Soeng district.

“They were sentenced to three months and 10 days,” he said. Another eight Cambodians were deported on November 7 after attempting to cross the border illegally via a passage at O’Svay, allegedly to try and find work in Thailand.