Logger killed by troops on Thai border

Logger killed by troops on Thai border

ppp Fri, 22 July 2016

Khouth Sophak Chakrya

A Cambodian national caught logging rosewood in Thailand was shot dead by Thai border troops on Wednesday, police said.

Teng Kosal, 35, from Battambang’s Phnom Proek district, was cutting wood with six compatriots when he was shot. One bullet struck his leg, another lodged in his side. Kosal did not die at the scene but was taken to a provincial hospital in Thailand, according to Pursat provincial police chief Sarun Chanthy.

“The victim was shot twice . . . causing serious injury and he died about two hours after Thai authorities at Moeung district sent him to Trat Provincial Hospital,” he said.

During the fatal raid, Thai forces confiscated five pieces of rosewood and a chainsaw.

Chanthy said the Thai authorities then gave permission for the Cambodian border authorities to repatriate the body back to Cambodia, but the hospital required the victim’s family to confirm the deceased’s identity before the body could be released.

“We have informed the victim’s family and we sent four of our officials to accompany them to the hospital in Trat province, Thailand,” Chanthy said.

“At the moment, our authorities are preparing the documents to request the Thai authorities help the victim’s family to fetch the body back into the Cambodia via Romduol checkpoint for a traditional funeral.”

The victim’s six companions fled into the forest towards Cambodia, but have not yet been recovered.