Three family members of the chief of Phnom Penh’s Prek Leap commune have been accused by Phnom Penh Municipal Court of fraud and issuing bad cheques worth $820,000 last year.

According to Kouy Thunna, the plaintiff’s attorney, and a copy of the charges filed by the court on March 18 and obtained yesterday, Prek Leap commune chief Preap Mony’s wife, Pich Sophy, 46, his daughter, Preap Sirisophea, 32, and his son-in-law, Morm Seila, 28, allegedly committed fraud and issued eight bad cheques between September and December last year to pay back a $300,000 loan from businesswoman and plaintiff Ros Lina.

Thunna said an investigative judge was looking into the case.

“When my client asked them to return the [loaned] money, they did not pay it, and also tried to escape from their responsibility,” he said, adding that his client was seeking her money back, plus $20,000 in damages.

The defendants could not be reached for comment, but commune chief Preap Mony denied the accusations against his family members, saying they knew nothing about the cheques.

“I am now consulting with my defence lawyer about the possibility of suing Ros Lina in court for defaming my family’s honour.”