The trial of Cambodian-American businessman San Richer and three others accused of defrauding a local businesswoman out of a $1 million investment in 2012 resumed yesterday at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
The complainant, Eng Lykuong, had alleged she invested $1 million in a rice venture called AKRA in return for a position on its board of directors, but was never appointed and never saw her money again.
Apart from Richer, Siv Sichan, a former US ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council, as well as American businessmen Thomas Willems and William Nojay were named as co-conspirators. Earlier this month, Nojay, who was a New York state assemblyman, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At yesterday’s hearing, Lykuong produced news clips of Nojay’s death, claiming that his apparent suicide was related to her case. “He had other cases of $2 billion, including the $1 million in Cambodia. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is working on these cases,” she said.
Following his death, American news outlets reported that Nojay was under FBI scrutiny for a $1.3 billion school modernisation program in New York.
Lykuong added that the quartet functioned as an “organised group”, and had planned to defraud her from the onset.
However, a defence lawyer for Richer, Kheng Ly, refuted Lykuong’s allegations, claiming AKRA was still operational as of November 2015 and Lykuong was indeed a board member.
But court prosecutor Che Song maintained there was enough evidence to convict the four men of fraud, with judge Svay Tonh saying the hearing would resume October 20.
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]