A move producer, charged with defrauding a woman of US$15,000 in order to launch his business, saw his trial end yesterday.

Mon Samnang, a 27-year-old producer and actor with Phnom Sorsai Sak Cinema Production Company, is alleged to have borrowed money from the 25-year-old woman and never paid it back, Presiding Judge at Phnom Penh Municipal Court Chaing Sinath said in court yesterday.

He was arrested in Tuol Sangke commune in Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh, last December and later charged, she said.

The woman involved, Buth Botun Srey Neang, told the court that she had been known Mon Samnang since July 2007 and that the two had been friends.

“He had always borrowed money to do his movie business and I always gave him as his requested, a total of $15,000, but he had never paid me back,” she said.

“When I tried to ask him about my money, he always ran away from me. Therefore, I decided to sue him in the court,” the woman said.

“I would like to ask the court to find justice for me and punish him with the law. I also would like to ask the court to force him to return my money he borrowed.”

When I asked him about my money, he always ran away

She also claimed that in addition to borrowing her money, Mon Samnang also tried to have sex with her, but she refused because he was married.

Mon Samnang denied the accusations and charges against him during the hearing yesterday.

He said that he had never borrowed the money from Botun Srey Neang.

“I accepted that I had known her but I have not committed all these accusations and charges,” he said in court.

“I think that these charges are very unjust for me. Therefore, I would like to ask the court to drop charges against me and release me,” he added.

A verdict in the civil case is due to be announced on April 27, the judge said.