Three men in Banteay Meanchey province were charged and placed in pre-trial detention on Saturday for allegedly passing counterfeit currency after local vendors in Mongkol Borei district complained, police said yesterday.

Provincial military police spokesman Lak Phy identified the suspects as Prey Veng province natives Heang Poch, 28, Ki Chantha, 20, and Hok Duk, 45, all of whom are road workers for a Thai company in Mongkol Borei district. Phy confirmed that the men were charged yesterday, but said he did not know which prosecutor was in charge of their case.

Phy said authorities became aware of the trio’s activities when the owner of “Leap Chea” phone shop in Russey Krork commune’s Russey Krork village noticed something awry with the $20 bill the suspects had given him as payment for SIM cards and phone apps and reported his suspicions to Mongkol Borei district military police.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday evening, having returned to the same shop. Phy speculated they had been emboldened by the shopkeeper’s acceptance of the first note. A further four counterfeit $20 bills were allegedly found on their persons.

All three were charged by a Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court prosecutor on Saturday and are currently being detained at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison pending trial.