Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced a man to six years in prison yesterday for using fake identification cards to steal US$65,000 from a Chinese air-conditioning company in Phnom Penh in 2008.

Municipal Court presiding judge Ker Sokhorn said yesterday that 26-year-old Vong Song Tung, a former accounting manager at Chin Huang Air-Conditioning Company, had  used fake identification cards to steal from the firm after he was given cheques – intended to pay staff – by the company director.

“The suspect … used fake identification cards to steal money from the bank account,” he said.

Ker Sokhorn said that Vong Song Tung was sued by the company director and escaped arrest after he was officially charged with stealing company money and using fake identification in December 2008.

He was not present to hear the judgment and was sentenced in absentia.

“Based on his activities, documents and witnesses that we have collected from the bank where he [withdrew] the money, the court has found that he was involved and committed the crimes as accused,” Ker Sokhorn said.

“[The court] also ordered Vong Song Tung to return a total of US$65,000 to the company and to pay the company another 10 million riel (roughly US$2,500) in compensation.”

Vong Song Tung was also fined 5 million riel (about US$1,250) by the court.

Pang Sothea, Vong Song Tung’s defence lawyer, yesterday denied the charges against his client.

“My client has acknowledged that he had been given cheques worth US$65,000 by the company,” Pang Sothea said.

“He has not stolen any money from the company.”

Pang Sothea added that he believed the verdict was “heavy”.

“I think that his verdict is very heavy and it is unjust for him,” he said.

“To find truth and justice for him, I will talk to his family about an appeal.”

Representatives from the Chin Huang Air-Conditioning Company were unable to bee reached for comment yesterday.