Four former workers at the Angkor Villa Hotel and Resort appeared in the Appeal Court yesterday for questioning in relation to allegations that they ransacked the hotel during a strike last year.

Korng Kimlean, union president of the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers’ Federation and the hotel’s former chef, said yesterday the clerk had asked him and his former colleagues one by one about damage to the hotel property alleged by the hotel owner.

“They asked me about the strike and whether we did it on our own or were ordered by someone else,” he said.

Angkor Villa Hotel and Resort co-owner Olivier Piot had sued the staff over alleged property damage to his establishment during the strike, but staff had rejected his allegations and continued to demand their jobs back, Korng Kimlean said.

“We will do another strike again to demand that the hotel allow us to return to work, but we have not set the date yet because we are going to discuss his allegations first,” he said.

The Appeal Court summoned the four workers to appear at the end of last month but suspended the hearing until yesterday.

Piot originally filed a complaint with the Siem Reap Provincial Court, but that court dropped the complaint.

He then pursued the quartet in the Appeal Court.

Angkor Village Hotel and Resort sacked 67 workers last year after attempts by staff to unionise the hotel.

Its staff have since been embroiled in a bitter battle over reinstatement and compensation.