A well-known Battambang businesswoman is on the run and her 18-year-old son is sitting in jail after the pair were charged with stealing millons from customers of their money exchange shop.

Im Dara, deputy commander of the Battambang military police, said that 43-year-old Pen Piros, owner of Battambang town’s You Hak Money Exchanges & Transfers, and her son, Phou Vithanrith, a grade 12 student at Preah Monivong High School, have been charged with fraud in connection with stealing between $3 million and $5 million from dozens of customers.

Phou Vitharith was arrested by military police at 11am on Tuesday as he sat for an exam at his high school.

He was subsequently sent to provincial court and charged the same day.

“Phou Vitharith was involved with his mother in responsibility and taking these moneys from their clients. He was charged with fraud, and he now was sent to be detained at the provincial court,” In Dara told the Post yesterday.

The teen’s mother, Pen Piros, is a well-known businesswoman from a wealthy family and has been involved in the money exchange and transfers business since 1994, In Dara said.  

“She had stolen moneys from many people who had transferred their moneys via her shop.

She escaped from the province after she was sued by her clients,” he said, adding that the military police believed her to be in Thailand.

Pen Piros and Phou Vitharith could not reached yesterday.