A microfinance company’s former marketing manager was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday and ordered to pay back more than $80,000 after being found guilty of stealing cash from his employer.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Y Thavareak said Hang Socheath, 35, who worked at Boeung Baitang, a locally owned company, had stolen more than $80,000 and gambled it away at casinos in Phnom Penh.

“I sentence him to one year in prison, fine him 2 million riel [$500], order him to return $81,250 to the plaintiff and pay $5,000,” Thavareak said.

Socheath, the judge added, had been charged after a complaint from Boeung Baitang’s director on January 21.

Socheath, whose role at the company included handling money, could not be reached for comment yesterday. When the accused appeared in court on July 2, he confessed, saying a gambling addiction had driven him to steal the money.

“I was addicted . . . I took it to play games in casinos in Phnom Penh,” he said.