A Ratanakkiri Forestry Administration official was transferred after his subordinates accused him of the irregular distribution of what was supposed to be more than 300 million riel in employee incentives to subordinates.

Keo Omalis, the government delegate in charge of the Forestry Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries wrote in a letter obtained by The Post.

It said Ratanakkiri provincial Forestry Administration chief Keb Kot has been removed from his position.

He will now work at the Forest Resource Social, Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment Center at the Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development (IRD).

Neither Omalis nor Kot would comment on Thursday.

Ratanakkiri provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries director Soy Sona said Kot voluntarily changed his position to work at the IRD.

Sona said Kot had problems with the distribution of incentives to some officials. The incentives are for officials involved in forest crimes. Some officials not involved in forest crime operations were jealous or dissatisfied with the money distribution. Those officials complained.

According to an August 26 letter from five officers of the Ratanakkiri provincial Forestry Administration and received by The Post on Thursday, the official incentive from the national level to Kot for distribution to subordinates was divided by him without transparency and showed favouritism to subordinates.

“The Forestry Administration received more than 300 million riel to encourage officials under Kot. Some officials got more, some got less and some did not receive money at all.

“The estimate of the money allocated to 24 officials is less than 100 million riel. So, where is the remaining 200 million riel or did Kot keep it?” the same letter asks.

The letter also expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership.