The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday convicted a French tourist to 18 months in prison over allegations he stole a backpack from a French woman also on holiday at the Dolphin Guesthouse in the capital’s Daun Penh district on March 20.

Judge Meng Tony said that Frank Christophe Henri Marret, 48, was charged with theft under articles 353 and 356 of the Kingdom’s Criminal Code. He was arrested on March 21.

Phsar Kandal I commune police chief Keo Sokha said that the French national was detained after he stole a backpack containing a camera from the room of a 23-year-old female French tourist staying at the same hotel.

He was later caught wearing the bag while taking a walk in the neighbourhood.

“He was arrested at about 1:30am on March 21 while he was walking along the riverside and [carrying] the bag he stole from the victim,” he said.

He added that after the arrest, police confiscated the backpack, and it was returned to the victim the same day.

Marret could not be reached for comment yesterday.