A man was charged with fraud by Phnom Penh Municipal Court Monday after claiming to have a $1 million note, which he promised to exchange with another man before robbing him of thousands of dollars worth of items in a transaction on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich island, according to a judge.
The duped victim, Yim Chhuth, arrived with $2,000, a motorbike and a pair of gold earrings, supposedly expecting to receive a $1 million note in return, according to Investigating Judge Kim Rathnarin.
However, the accused fraudster, To Sovong, 55, arrived in a car with three other men and handed off a case to Mr. Chhuth before speeding away with his motorbike, money and jewels. The case contained only a 100 riel note.
“I completed my questioning and found that Mr. Sovong cheated the victim,” Judge Rathnarin said. Police are searching for men who accompanied the suspected fraudster, the judge added.
Mr. Sovong faces up to three years in jail and a fine of $1,500.
