A defence lawyer for tycoon Kok An revealed yesterday that the senator had filed lawsuits in March against six relatives of Heng Chheang and his wife, Tep Kolap, both of whom were convicted last December of embezzling US$58 million from An’s wife’s Anco Brothers Co LTD.

Long Dara, a lawyer for Kok An, said that the six defendants were sued for defamation and receiving stolen goods, namely money – and goods bought with money – that had been stolen from the senator’s company.

However, Dara declined to release the defendants’ names, or comment on the details of their cases.

“The court now is working on their cases, and my client has enough proof and evidence for his lawsuit,” Dara told the Post. “He had asked the court to pay for his damages, and strongly punish them by laws."

Court President Chiv Keng could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Orn Hing, a defence lawyer for Chheang and his wife, Kolap, said that so far, he wasn’t aware of all of the suits filed by the senator.

“Until now, I was aware that there were only four relatives of my clients to be sued by Oknha Kok An at the Phnom Penh court,” he said.

The senator had filed the suits alleging that Chheang had transferred stolen money and property to those relatives.

“I was not aware that the number had increased to six people,” Hing said.

According to Hing, the lawsuits are unfounded, and are simply a rehash of Chheang and Kolap’s case.

“It seems very strange, this case,” said Hing. “It is the same case [as Chheang and Kolap’s] but he’s suing many people who are not involved.”

Hing added that, according to documents and evidence he had obtained, Chheang and Kolap’s relatives had nothing to do with Kok An’s case, and were simply the victims of his expanding accusations.

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