Five members of an environmental conservation and rural development organisation, including the head, have been arrested by the Phnom Penh Gendarmerie and sent to court for allegedly extorting money from bush meat vendors.

According to a social media post by Rath Sreang, deputy commander of the National Gendarmerie and Commander of the Phnom Penh Gendarmerie, the suspects purchased wildlife meat from a local vendor, including five turtles, one cobra and two pythons. 

They then allegedly threatened the seller and demanded 5 million riel ($1,250) not to report her. However, the vendor only agreed to pay $300.

The alleged extortion took place on February 9 in Trapeang Kol village, Kantork commune, in Phnom Penh’s Kambol district. After receiving a call on the 1291 hotline, the gendarmerie responded to the scene.

Upon their arrival, the authorities arrested five people.

 “During their interrogation, all five suspects confessed that they had planned to extort a female bush meat seller. They confiscated five turtles, one cobra, and two pythons, and then demanded 5 million riel to release her. However, the seller only agreed to pay $300 in exchange for her release,” said Sreang.

According to him, the five suspects split the $300 among themselves, each receiving more than 200,000 riel ($50). They allegedly divided the confiscated bush meat among themselves and consumed it. 

The suspects also admitted that they had repeatedly accepted bribes from traders who “regularly paid them off”.

The five individuals were handed to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for further legal action.

As of publication, The Post had not received a response from the Ministry of Environment as to whether charges have been laid or if the animals involved in the case were rare or endangered species.