A Spanish national was sentenced to a year in prison yesterday after using fake cash cards to withdraw thousands of dollars from Vattanac Bank ATMs.

He was also ordered to pay $4,400 to Vattanac – the plaintiff in the case – according to Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Meng Tony.

Tony said that 55-year-old Ferdonal Clement, who was arrested in December by municipal military police, was ordered “to pay $4,100 in damages and another $300 in compensation to Vattanac Bank as the plaintiff”.

Colonel Khen Sovann, deputy commander of the Phnom Penh Municipal Military Police, said that Clement was arrested at a Vattanac ATM in Daun Penh district’s Boeung Raing commune on December 10, after the bank had filed a complaint about the withdrawals.

He added that after the arrest, police seized about 50 fake ATM cards along with money he had withdrawn and that Clement had been found guilty of theft.

Clement declined to comment following the verdict yesterday.