Twenty-five people who purchased property from Long Chhin Resorts on land allegedly illegally filled in on Kob Srov lake have filed complaints at the Kandal Provincial Court against the company, court officials said Tuesday.
Provincial court clerk Chan Na confirmed he had received the complaints in the days since the government completed demolition of all buildings on the site Aug 3.
“I received the complaints against Long Chhin for cheating them by selling them land,” Chan Na said, adding that he had sent the complaints to the prosecutor. “They want the company owner to be punished and they want compensation,” he said.
Provincial Court Director Phok Mara said the court is considering the cases.
Interior Ministry Secretary of State Nuth Sa An said Tuesday that the government also intends to file a complaint against Long Chhin.
“The government will file a complaint against [Long Chhin] but let the people take their cases first,” he said.
Representatives for Long Chhin could not be reached for comment.
Those lodging the complaints claim their transactions with Long Chhin are valid despite the fact Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered anyone who had land created on Kob Srov—which is a crucial natural reservoir for flood reduction in Phnom Penh—to return it to the government without compensation.
Kob Srov area resident Sok Samoth said he was one of the complainants. If he didn’t regain ownership of the 20-by-40 meter plot he purchased, he said, he would ask that the $20,000 he paid for it be returned.
“I ask Samdech Hun Sen to check and help solve this problem as we have land titles for this area issued by provincial authorities,” Sok Samoth said.
Chhim Chien, 65, of Phnom Penh’s Prampi Makara district, said that she also filed a complaint seeking the return of the 20-by-30 meter plot she purchased for $15,000.
“I dared to buy this land because it was signed by the…relevant officials,” she said. “I just want my land back.”
