The Appeal Court yesterday began hearing now-incarcerated former Anco Brothers deputy general director Heng Chheang’s appeal against Senator Kok An’s requested Phnom Penh Municipal Court injunction over his property.

Chheang, and his wife, Tep Kolap, former Phnom Penh International University director, were convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in March on breach of trust charges for embezzling nearly US$60 million from Kok An’s Anco Brothers company.

“There was no money lost in Mr [Kok An’s] companies as he accused,” Chheang told the court, requesting the injunction be lifted so that he and his wife, who has served the majority of her prison time so far in hospital, can access their property, which has been frozen by the municipal court for nearly 18 months.

Chheang further underscored his wife’s non-involvement in Kok An’s accusations and pleaded on her behalf to have access to their property and bank accounts restored.

Kok An’s lawyer, Long Dara, insisted that until the final verdict is handed down in the breach of trust case, which is currently with Cambodia’s highest judges at the Supreme Court, the injunction must stay in place.

Speaking to the Post Dara also said his client was working to trace more of Chheang and Kolap’s property in order for them to meet the court-appointed debt and compensation of $50,000.

In Tinnaka, a PPIU student following the case with an accounting team, reviewed the ledgers pertaining to the embezzled money and was incredulous that the case continued.

“If the appeal court had read all the bank documents and strictly considered the case, [they would see] there was no money missing from Kok An’s companies.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]