A lawyer who is among six defendants in a fraud case involving the purchase of a large plot of land in Banteay Meanchey province Wednesday denied forging public documents to help secure a 6,097-hectare economic land concession.
Ty Pov, a lawyer who was hired by International Green Energy (IGE), a company headed by British businessman Gregg Fryett, who is also on trial, has been charged with accepting bribes to issue false documents and forging public documents.
Wednesday, he told the Phnom Penh Municipal Court that he did not forge any documents related to the deal, and had simply verified a map of the plot in Svay Chek district that was sent to him by the U.K.-based legal services firm Citadel Trustees, of which he is head of the Cambodia branch.
“I did not forge any public document,” said Mr. Pov, who is free on bail. “Citadel sent [a map] to me and I verified what they asked me.” Deputy prosecutor Ly Sophana said he believed Mr. Pov forged the document.
“There was no correct verification from authorities…. This is evidence to prove he forged the document,” Mr. Sophana said. The trial continues on October 28.
