The Cambodian-American director of a construction company was charged with fraud by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday for allegedly accepting an initial $100,000 payment to construct National Road 21 in Kandal province, but failing to execute the project.
The judge ordered the provisional detention of Sang Sarak, 59, director of the Green Taesan Construction company, over a fraud charge for cheating the plaintiff out of $100,000, court spokesman Suos Vithyearandy said on Tuesday.
“The case is still under investigation by the judge,” he added, declining to comment further.
Bun Sathya, chief of the municipal police’s minor crimes bureau, said Mr. Sarak was arrested on Sunday evening in Tuol Kok district, but declined to say more about the case.
Investigating Judge Heng Kesaro declined to comment.
The complaint was filed by J & R Import Export & Construction, according to a report in the Koh Santepheap Daily newspaper.
Fraud is punishable by between six months and three years in prison and a fine of one million to six million riel, or about $250 to $1,500.
