Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday heard the case of a former police colonel charged with breach of trust after he allegedly accepted almost $50,000 from a Taiwanese national for promising to use a fictitious official position at the Interior Ministry to secure the man Cambodian nationality.

According to presiding judge Kor Vandy, Suong Veasna, 52, claimed he was a personal assistant to Interior Minister Sar Kheng and could use his influence for the right price.

He met Taiwanese businessman Hui Yien in December 2011, and by October 2012 $48,000 had been handed over.

Veasna admitted that he took the money from Hui but said that, while he had tried his best to secure the passport, he had been unsuccessful.

But according to the judge, after receiving the money, Veasna fled the area and was arrested in October 2013.

Hui is demanding all the funds be paid back in addition to $20,000 in compensation.

The verdict will be handed down on July 1.