A former assistant at a Phnom Penh garment factory was sentenced to two years in jail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday for skimming $57,768 from workers’ overtime pay and lunch allowances between 2012 and 2014.

Ly Kimheak, a former administrative assistant at Reliable Sources Industrial, was charged with breach of trust following her arrest on October 4 of last year.

“Based on evidence and her confession, the court finds her guilty,” said municipal court judge Pich Maren.

Kimheak was sentenced to two years in prison, which was reduced to one year due to time served.

She was also ordered to pay back the money as well as $2,500 in compensation to the owner of the garment factory.

Sum Chamrong, a lawyer for Reliable Sources Industrial, which employs about 2,000 workers, applauded the verdict.

“The factory owner has known about her embezzling since 2012, after he saw erratic reports being filed about overtime and lunch fees,” he said.

During her trial, Kimheak admitted to the scheme, but said that her boss, Thol Phallin, ordered her to do it.

“After receiving the money, I gave it all to her, and she gave me about $10 every day,” she said.

Phallin categorically denied colluding with her subordinate, and served as a witness in the case against her. “I was very surprised when I learned about this,” she said.