ABC - An illegal logger in Cambodia has dropped an address
book during a bust, leaving behind details of corrupt government officials and
spying rangers.
The man fled after being intercepted by police over an
illegal haul of rare rosewood in Koh Kong province earlier this month.
Beth Eisenstaedt from Wildlife Alliance helped
coordinate the bust and has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia the perpetrator
left behind an address book of his clients and an accounts book including
details of bribes.
"We were able to confiscate the wood, and we
stumbled upon this treasure trove of names and pay off amounts of all the
people he had been dealing with, including some government officials," she
said.
Ms Eisenstaedt says some government officials
identified have already been dismissed while others remain working for the
Forestry Administration.
"Cambodia is a developing country with a
developing government and there's a lot of opportunity for corruption,"
she said.
"Building those relationships and supporting
positive actions by the government is a really important part of what we
do."
Several rangers working with Wildlife Alliance have
been identified as spies for the loggers and are currently under 24-hour
surveillance after being questioned.
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