Father says the judge did not deliver on promises.

THE family of a jailed man in Ratanakkiri province is preparing to sue a judge for accepting a bribe to release the man from prison and then failing to follow through.

Pa Chhoeun, 59, told the Post Sunday that he gave Thoang Saron, the deputy director of Ratanakkiri provincial court, US$150 to release his son from prison last month. But his son was never released.

"We have asked [rights group] Adhoc to help us release my son from detention and to retrieve my $150 from investigating judge Thoang Saron, who cheated me out of the money," he said.

Pa Chhoen said his son, Yun Chhoy, 33, was jailed in connection with a dispute over damaged property.

Pen Bonnar, a provincial coordinator for Adhoc, said he would send a formal complaint to the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Council of Magistracy later this week.

Thoang Saron could not be reached for comment. Tuy Sim, the provincial military police chief, said he was "not sure about the case".