A movie producer, charged with defrauding a woman of US$15,000 last year to launch his business, was released on Wednesday after almost five months in detention on condition that he pays back the money plus $5,000 in compensation.

Mon Samnang, a 27-year-old producer and actor at the Phnom Sorsai Sak Cinema Company, was arrested and charged with fraud last December.

It was alleged the producer had borrowed money from his friend, 25-year-old Buth Botum Srey Neang, and refused to pay her back, presiding judge at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court Chaing Sinath said in court.

Buth Botum Srey Neang also claimed in court last week that in addition to borrowing her money, Mon Samnang also tried to have sex with her, but she refused because he was married.

“He borrowed money from her to make his own cinema business but he did not return it to her as promised,” Chaing Sinath said. “

The judge added that Mon Samnang was arrested at his home in the Tuol Kork village in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, after the victim filed a complaint with police. He has been held in custody until last Wednesday,

“The plaintiff has withdrawn her complaint against him. The suspect has also agreed to return the money he borrowed and pay compensation to the plaintiff, so the court decided to drop the charges against him and release him,” she said.