Popular comedian Chuon Chan Ratana, known as Neang Kaay, was convicted in absentia to four years in prison yesterday for pawning two rental cars.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court presiding judge Kor Vandy found Chan Ratana guilty of faking vehicle documentation and breach of trust.

Chan Ratana, 27, was also fined three million riel ($750) and ordered to pay $7,200 in damages to two plaintiffs.

She stood accused on one count of pawning a Lexus SUV for $8,000 after renting it from Teang Kong on a four-month contract on December 19, 2010.

On a second count, Chan Ratana was found guilty of giving a false $15,450 cheque as a down payment to plaintiff Hy Penkry on October 17, 2010, to rent a Toyota Highlander SUV, which she also pawned.

Earlier this month, her convicted accomplice, Liv Ramo, who also remains on the lam, was sentenced to two years in prison for fraud and using invalid cheques.

Vandy also issued a warrant for the arrest of Chan Ratana yesterday and said she was free to appeal the decision.

When the case was initially heard in 2011, Chan Ratana didn’t appear at court despite the issuance of five separate summonses.