Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday dropped all charges against the owner of a nine-storey building in the capital who was accused of breaking a rental contract with the president of International Standard School (ISS) and unlawfully confiscating school property in 2012.

Investigating judge Ly Lip Meng said all charges filed by Run Rathveasna, 47, president of Panha Cheat University and ISS, against landlord and military police Colonel Hoy Heang, 58, were dropped for lack of evidence. Rathveasna will appeal, his lawyer said.

Rathveasna claims he signed a 10-year contract in early 2012 to rent part of Heang’s building in Tuol Kork district, when he opened ISS. He paid Heang the requested deposit and nine months’ rent before the school’s finances dried up in late 2012, leaving rent unpaid for two months.

Heang’s defence lawyer said his client ended the contract and seized school property to make up for the discontinued payment, as ISS was bankrupt.