A suspect was placed under pre-trial detention by an investigating judge on Sunday for allegedly using the names of Kratie provincial leaders to extract money from illegal timber traders.

Prum Nei Rath, 29, from Kratie province’s Snuol district was arrested on Friday in Kratie town by military police, led by deputy provincial prosecutor Chea Sopheak.

Court spokesman Tiv Vuth Then said investigating judge Eng Chamnab had placed the suspect under pre-trial detention at a provincial prison on fraud charges.

Sopheak told local media outlet Swift News on Sunday that the suspect had been collecting money from timber trafficking trucks for over a month, working as a broker by using the names of several provincial experts, and in doing so committing fraud.

According to the court order issued by Chamnab on Sunday, “the suspect was investigated for fraud at Tapo village in Kratie town’s O’Russey commune on Friday according to Articles 377 and 378 of the Criminal Code . . . The suspect was detained on [the same day].”

Article 377 of the Criminal Code defines fraud as the act of deceiving a person by the use of a false name or a fictitious title to obtain benefits from or damage the reputation of another party.

Article 378 states that fraud is punishable by imprisonment for six months to three years and a fine of one to six million riel ($250 to $1,500).