A Kampong Speu man is officially out of contention for the annual Phnom Sruoch district “neighbour of the year” award after sweet-talking the 36-year-old woman next door into letting him borrow her moto and then disappearing.

She promptly filed a complaint with police, who arrested him upon return.

Confessing to having sold the bike and blown all the cash, the man pleaded for freedom so he could find money to compensate her, but police would have none of the sob story.

Koh Santepheap