The boss of opposition leader Kem Sokha’s purported mistress was questioned yesterday by a Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutor probing claims the woman lied to police and worked as a prostitute.

Khmer Angkor Barber Shop owner Tuon Socheat said prosecutor Sieng Sok quizzed him about Khom Chandaraty, also known by her Facebook name ‘Mon Srey’, who authorities say is featured speaking intimately to the Cambodia National Rescue Party acting president in recorded phone conversations leaked to social media.

“Sieng Sok asked about Mon Srey’s activities at my shop such as when she started working with me, how often she took leave and many other things,” Socheat said. “Mon Srey asked me to take leave since March 1, after the recording was circulated on Facebook.”

Since the tapes were leaked, the scandal has snowballed into a corruption investigation and defamation case.

The latter, pursued by anti-terror police, stems from disparaging references made to social media personality Thy Sovantha on the tapes.

Sokha has refused to comment on any aspect of the case.

According to Ny Sokha, chief of investigations at rights group Adhoc, which has advised Chandaraty, authorities are investigating whether the hairdresser, who denies having an affair with Sokha, lied to police during an interview regarding the defamation claim and had worked as a prostitute.

The court will summon her on Friday, he said.