Despite the complaint being withdrawn, the Preah Vihear Provincial Court is pursuing land-clearing charges against three defendants.

Last month, the provincial Forestry Administration lodged a complaint against Veng Eam, 45; Ngoy Yean, 51; and his wife, Huon Kim Ay, 39, alleging they illegally bulldozed state land.

The Forestry Administration last week agreed to drop charges if the three stopped bulldozing, said Un Chenda, Preah Vihear’s deputy governor.

Chenda said he expected that when the defendants went to court yesterday, they would thumbprint documents that would put an end to the case. Instead, the trio was questioned by the court, Eam said.

Further, a court clerk called them last night, Kim Ay said, claiming the case would only be dropped if each defendant paid $500 to the court.

“The court did not end the case and still questioned us because we refused to pay,” Kim Ay said.

Chhum Kanika, a clerk at the court declined to comment.