A man posing as a lawyer cheated a would-be briber out of 5 million riel (about $1,250) in Ratanakkiri province’s Banlung town on Tuesday. A woman handed over the cash to the con man, who had promised to use it to free her son from prison.

When the man skipped town, she complained to police that her illegal bribe had been stolen. Authorities are seeking the swindler, but there’s no word on whether the mother will face charges for attempted bribery.

Koh Santepheap