Military police yesterday arrested a 38-year-old man for alleged telecommunications data theft that resulted in a ministry losing hundreds of thousands of dollars per month, an official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Pou Davy, deputy commander of Phnom Penh municipal military police, said that Yoth Peth, from Thailand, was arrested at his rental house in the capital’s Chamkarmon district at about 3pm.

“He has stolen telecommunication data from Cambodia’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and set up joint sim cards comprising Cellcard, Metfone, Beeline and Smart Cards. It’s enabled people to receive or make calls overseas without crossing the ministry’s data system,” Davy said.

The alleged theft had been costly for the government, he added. “His activities have caused the ministry to lose hundreds of thousands of US dollars every month.”

Police had investigated Peth’s activities for about two weeks before making an arrest and seizing telecommunications equipment, Davy said. “He’s still being questioned and detained at our municipal military police headquarters in Phnom Penh. He will be sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday,” he said.

Chem Sangvar, general director of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication’s inspection department, could not be reached.