Police seized a van carrying a dozen pieces of high-grade luxury timber in Tbong Khmum province last weekend after the car was apparently involved in a chase that ended in a multi-vehicle traffic accident, according to local authorities.

Thanh Sovath, Memot district deputy police chief, said the van collided with another car and a parked motorbike on National Road 7 on Thursday afternoon, injuring four people.

“After the accident, even though the driver [of the van] and another passenger were injured, they did not wait for medical treatment and escaped,” he added.

Sovath also said that, according to villagers, the van was being chased by another car when the accident happened.

Provincial police chief Mao Pov took to Facebook to offer condolences, saying he felt “sorry about traffic accident on 22 September that was caused by a van carrying luxury wood”.

In a separate incident, more than 1,800 cubic metres of luxury timber was confiscated near the Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary last week, according to a Mondulkiri provincial environmental officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that authorities had filed a report on the seizure.

“We have made a report to the court and we have a suspect [in mind],” the official said. “This was a huge crime and they have to be held responsible for this, and the court will take action against them.”

However, So Sovichea, Mondulkiri Provincial Court spokesman, said the court had yet to receive the report.