University rector Tep Kolap on Tuesday filed a defamation lawsuit against CPP senator Kok An, asking for legal action and $35 million in damages from the tycoon, an associate said yesterday.

“Tep Kolap has sufficient proof in her lawsuit against Oknha Kok An. Based on the strong proof, I hope that the court will accept the lawsuit and find the justice for her,” said Chan Bora, a relative of Kolap’s.

Kolap and her husband, Heng Chheang, were accused of embezzling more than $58 million from An’s business, but the Supreme Court ruled last September that an audit implicating the two had been incomplete, and ordered Kolap to be released and the case against Chheang to be retried after a new audit.

Kolap’s lawsuit refers to articles 311 and 312 of the Penal Code, which assign criminal liability to anyone who wrongfully accuses an innocent person.

According to Bora, Kolap has also lost more than $15 million since her 2011 arrest in interest fees for construction at Phnom Penh International University and was seeking additional payment for damages.

An’s lawyer, Long Dara, said he was unaware of the latest suit.