Two Peam Kay villagers in Koh Kong province were summoned for questioning by the provincial court on Wednesday in a dispute over the ownership of 277ha in Kiri Sakor district’s Koh Sdech commune.

Fifteen families claim ownership of the ancestral land, but the plaintiff In Sophy, who is a former deputy governor of Kiri Sakor, says she has owned the land since 2010.

One of the defendants, Sum Toeung Lay, 35, an army officer based in Khemarak Phoumin town, said: “The judge told me to return home to gather evidence and witnesses, and we should wait for another court summons,” he said.

Toeung Lay said while the 15 families have “owned” the land since 1990, they do not have an official land title.

This is the third time representatives of the 15 families have been summoned to court, but no resolution has yet been found.

Kiri Sakor district governor Khim Chandy said Sophy is now deputy governor of Koh Kong district.