The Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court has summoned Kampong Tralach commune chief Yoeun Sophal to appear in court on May 20 as he has been accused of stealing property.

But Sophal claimed that the dilemma concerned two families who disagreed over the purchase of a plot of land.

Court prosecutor Ith Sothea confirmed that Sophal had to attend court for allegedly forging land documents, and stealing land to sell it. The offence is said to have been committed on October 5, 2015.

“When people complain, we have to call the parties in for questioning, but we were not sure about the story, so we needed to ask Sophal,” Sothea said.

Sophal said the initial deal was between two groups of in-laws. One side agreed to sell a plot of land 15m by 20m for $10,000.

Disagreement over the sale ensued, and the money ended up being returned to the buyer.

In 2016, the two sides went to court and tried to split the land and demolish a house that was built on it.

The two sides could not agree and Sophal was eventually summoned to court because of a complaint made by one of the parties involved in the dispute.