Opposition lawmaker Real Camerin has written to the Anti-Corruption Unit to refute allegations he embezzled $55,000 to fund a mass border rally to inspect allegations of Vietnamese encroachment in July last year, saying he had just $10 left over after the trip’s expenses.

Three anonymous complaints were lodged with the ACU in July, accusing the CNRP parliamentarian of pocketing most of the cash donated for the excursion to Svay Rieng province’s Kampong Ro district, which was organised amid heightened political tensions over the sensitive border issue.

In a letter addressed to Om Yentieng and dated January 20, Camerin slammed the complaint as “deliberately fabricated” to ruin his reputation, before breaking-down his expenses for trip, which he said cost $20,740 – just $10 less than the total raised.

He said renting 61 buses and 85 vans cost $8,540 and $7,650, respectively, while $800 was spent on food, $200 on water, $150 on security, $100 on medical supplies and $200 on other expenses. He also noted 50 big Cambodian flags cost $400, while $2,700 was shelled out for 1,001 small flags.