The Supreme Court has granted bail to Pen Nuon, a local businessman who has been charged with fraud and a breach of trust in relation to a land dispute in Kampot province, after a nearly one hour trial.

According to the case file read out at the hearing, in June, July and September of 2021, Nuon bought 1,183ha of land with supporting documentation from 226 families in Prey Peay and Dum Pdao villages in Chhouk district’s Trapaing Phlaing commune.

Nuon, who held the honorific Oknha, bought the land for the purpose of selling it on to an unspecified company. Later, a complaint was filed against him by a man known as Sin Bul.

Police arrested Nuon on January 11 this year on an arrest warrant issued by the provincial court investigating judge. He was then placed in pre-trial detention for fraud and breach of trust under articles 377, 378, 391 and 392 of the Criminal Code.

Nuon told the Supreme Court – in the absence of a defence lawyer – on May 31 that he had bought the land and then sold it. But the other party had not paid him for the land, eventually leading to the legal woes, he said.

“I have been held in detention for nearly five months. I have filed a grievance with the Supreme Court for bail because I have a wife and four children to take care of,” he said.

Judge You Ottara, president of the Supreme Court trial chamber, overruled the decision of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Appeal Court – which has jurisdiction over three other coastal provinces including Koh Kong, Kep and Kampot – after hearing the statement of the accused and the conclusion of the prosecutor.

“The Supreme Court decides to dismiss the Regional Court of Appeal’s decision and orders the release of Pen Nuon from the day of this announcement if no other convictions are found,” Judge Ottara said.