MIAMI – In a surprising turn of events, the director of the Forestry Administration’s Wildlife and Biodiversity Department in Cambodia has been acquitted by the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Kry Masphal was previously detained in 2022 following a five-year investigation into an alleged monkey-smuggling ring. The Cambodian government consistently denied Masphal’s guilt throughout the proceedings.
“This acquittal is a testament to the fair judgment of the US court, and it reinforces the commitment of Cambodian officials to upholding laws and international conventions,” stated Im Rachna, spokesperson for the Ministry Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The acquittal was first announced by the animal activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA hailed the verdict as a triumph, calling the trial an “eye-opening monkey-smuggling trial” that laid bare the corrupt and cruel nature of the monkey importation business.
Masphal was indicted alongside seven other individuals by the US court for allegedly violating international conservation treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as the US’ Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act. He was apprehended at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York in November 2022 and was accused of collaborating with a Hong Kong-owned company to smuggle long-tailed macaques into the US between December 2017 and January 2022.
The macaques, also known as crab-eating macaques, are widely distributed throughout Cambodia and can be found not only in the wilderness but also in urban areas, including the Wat Phnom national heritage site in central Phnom Penh, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Masphal’s release on bail on December 27, 2022, came after prolonged appeals from the Cambodian government for his freedom.
The verdict raises questions about the effectiveness of the investigation and the evidence presented against Masphal. It is unclear why a US court was involved in a case that took place entirely outside of its jurisdiction. However, the acquittal highlights the significance of international collaborations in wildlife trafficking cases.
While Masphal has been exonerated, the monkey-smuggling ring case continues to unfold, leaving room for further legal proceedings and potential implications for those involved. Cambodia’s handling of the investigation and its commitment to conservation will likely face scrutiny moving forward.