A defence lawyer yesterday said he had evidence that would clear the names of Hen Chheang and his wife Tep Kolap after the imprisoned couple were told their criminal appeal would be heard in court on March 1.

Mai Vireak/Phnom Penh Post

Heang Chheang is embraced by his son as he leaves the Supreme Court in Phnom Penh after being denied bail in October.

Plang Samnang, a judge for Phnom Penh’s court of appeal, said the couple, who were convicted and sentenced to four and a half years in prison in November for breach of trust, after tens of millions of dollars were embezzled from the company Anco Brothers, had been granted a three-day appeal hearing.

The company is owned by tycoon senator Kok An’s wife.

Ourn Hing, a defence lawyer for Heng Chheang and Tep Kolap, said he had already submitted new evidence and documents to the court that would prove his clients’ innocence.

This included payment slips from the company, loan documents from banks for the construction of Phnom Penh International University, documents detailing money transactions, letters from the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s National Accounting Council and a written document from Trak Sophath, Kok An’s internal auditor.

More “proof” would be submitted to the court next week, he said.

Long Dara, a lawyer for Kok An, said he had not yet been told about the appeal hearing.