A 39-year-old Siem Reap hotel director has been arrested and charged with fraud after pretending to be a court official and a close adviser of Prime Minister Hun Sen in order to extort money from individuals.

Ith Sothea, investigating judge at the Siem Reap Provincial Court, said yesterday that Srey Polo, vice director of the Angkor Silk Hotel in Siem Reap province, was charged with fraud on Saturday and has been placed in pre-trial detention.

“He has used the name of our Siem Reap court institution as well as the name of the Cambodian leader to extort money from people,” he said.

Polo was arrested on July 5 in Siem Reap town, Sothea said, after two victims lodged complaints with the court claiming he cheated them out of $800 each by saying he had links to court officials and promising he would be able to secure release for their imprisoned sons.

He added that Polo had defrauded others by saying he had connections with Hun Sen.