Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ex-Banteay Meanchey deputy governor arrested for fraud

Ex-Banteay Meanchey deputy governor arrested for fraud

Ex-Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Tour Theantoeu with police after his arrest yesterday morning. National Police
Ex-Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Tour Theantoeu with police after his arrest yesterday morning. National Police

Ex-Banteay Meanchey deputy governor arrested for fraud

A former deputy governor of Banteay Meanchey province was arrested yesterday following a guilty verdict by the provincial court in a 12-year-old fraud case, police said yesterday.

According to provincial police official Mann Soeung, ex-deputy governor Tour Theantoeu was picked up in a restaurant on the basis of an arrest warrant issued on April 20 – itself based on a verdict from February 24 that sentenced Theantoeu to a year in jail for an unspecified fraud case dating back to 2004.

“We arrested him because the court ordered us to do so. We handed him over to the judge, and any further action is the decision of the judge,” he said.

Provincial police chief Ath Khem yesterday said he could not explain the delay in the verdict, or the arrest, nor could he explain the nature of the case against Theantoeu, saying that authorities had simply arrested him based on the court’s order.

According to the National Police, Theantoeu was an adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly.

Sum Chankea, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said Theantoeu had been widely considered a “tiger” in the province and suggested his arrest had something to do with his declining influence.

He added that the former official had held the position of deputy governor for a short time after the 1993 elections, and had been implicated in many disputes since, including “destroying villagers’ rice fields, deforestation, destroying mountains and many land conflicts”.

He also said that he suspected Theantoeu was involved in the long-running case against Briton Gregg Fryett, who is currently on trial in Phnom Penh over accusations of illegal land clearing and forgery committed in Banteay Meanchey.

“According to my interviews with people, Theantoeu demanded to be the director of the IGE Company, of which Gregg was the owner . . . but he failed to get the position. So, he got the company in trouble.”

Fryett has consistently maintained his innocence in court, although he is also wanted in Britain on allegations that he defrauded pensioners through dodgy land deals.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom