A Norodom Ranariddh Party commune official in Kandal province was arrested Wednesday on charges of land theft, a party representative said.
Soth Say, second clerk of Viel S'bou commune, in Kien Svay district, for allegedly taking land from Phanimex Co., Ltd., and selling it to an organization for orphans, Sovan Komar, said NRP spokesman Muth Chantha.
The arrest comes after several back-and-forth public exchanges between Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh, his traditional political rival.
Muth Chantha said the arrest was undertaken without a warrant, "in violation of the law."
The party planned to file a complaint with the police chief of Kandal, Muth Chantha said.