A village chief and his assistant accused of fraudulently selling 2 hectares of state-owned forest in Pursat province have been arrested and sent to the Veal Veng district Forestry Administration headquarters.

Ouk Bunthoeun, chief of Smert village, and his assistant Nheb Vuthy, 40, allegedly sold the land for between $200 and $500 per hectare to three men from Battambang who subsequently cleared it of timber.

Theang Leng, Veal Veng district police chief, said that during the arrest of the two suspects, the authorities seized four home-made rifles, two batteries and other evidence that was to be given to the Forestry Administration.

Veal Veng Forestry Administration official Chea Huot yesterday said he was continuing to interview the suspects. “They have not admitted the allegation yet,” he said.