The three journalists who are accused of extorting $2,000 from Casino Knhom in Kampot province. FB
Three journalists have been charged with extorting cash from a casino in Kampot province, in exchange for not reporting on its sub-standard wastewater management.
On March 24, the three appeared before the court, charged with extortion, an offense under Articles 363 and 364 of the Criminal Code.
The provincial court identified the three as Ton Mov, 41, publisher of Kampot Daily, Khmao Mithona, 32, editor of the same outlet, and Thy Sophal, alias Sros, 33, an MC and publisher of Athireach Samleng Chao Kamsot.
After questioning the suspects and reviewing evidence seized in the case, the investigating judge ordered the temporary detention of Mov and Mithona at Kampot Prison. Sophal was released under court supervision.
On March 18, Nhim Vanchhun, 46, a representative of Casino Knhom, filed a complaint with provincial police, accusing the three of demanding $2,000 in exchange for halting the publication of reports about the casino’s garbage disposal and wastewater discharge practices.
Casino Knhom is located in Lork village, in Kampong Trach district’s Russei Srok Khang Lech commune.
In the afternoon of March 20, officers from the Kampot Provincial Police conducted a sting operation, where they observed the suspects accepting $2,000 from a casino representative at a café in Kampong Trach district’s Svay Tong Khang Tbong commune.
The Casino Knhom is reportedly responsible for the pollution of the Chak canal in Kampot province. Environment ministry
Among the evidence seized was one Toyota Camry, three press ID cards and $2,000 in cash which belongs to the complainant.
Officials from the Ministry of Environment and local authorities inspected the site on March 25.
The inspection team found that the casino was releasing untreated wastewater into the Chak canal, with the water turning black and emitting a foul odour for 50 metres upstream and 450 downstream from the outlet pipe.
The pollution reported affected the water source of at least nine households.
It was determined that the casino lacked a wastewater treatment system and had failed to manage its solid waste disposal. The casino’s management company failed to obtain a wastewater discharge license from the environment ministry and had not conducted an environmental impact assessment before operations began.
The ministry ordered an immediate halt to the discharge of wastewater until a treatment system has been installed and approved.
Following an assessment under the Environmental and Natural Resources Code, the casino was fined and ordered to compensate for the environmental damage and public health impacts it had caused. It was also instructed to restore the polluted canal to its original condition.
