Alleged embezzler accused of taking over $120,000
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
A real estate businessman was detained yesterday and charged by the Phnom
Penh Municipal Court for allegedly embezzling more than $120,000 from a former
business partner and owner of a construction company in 2020.
According to the court, the accused was identified as Praser Battari,
38, president of Battari Real Estate Co Ltd living in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo
district, Chraing Chamres II commune.
The accused was charged with “Breach of Trust” under Articles 391 and 392
of the Criminal Code and faces 6 months to three years in prison if convicted.
The accused was arrested on Wednesday by police from the penal department of
the Ministry of Interior. He was sued by the victim, Mann Yusuf, the owner
of a construction company.
Penal Police Officer Major Keo Sothy said yesterday that on November 3,
2020, the accused signed a contract with Yusuf’s company, and hired Yusuf’s
company to construct apartments on a project worth $1 million in Pursat
province’s Krakor district.
Maj Sothy said that a month later after Yusuf had sourced building
materials worth $125,369 and delivered them to the plaintiff’s construction
site. The victim wanted to clarify the contact as there was a land dispute over
the site.
“But the plaintiff had already spent more than $120,000 in purchasing
construction materials for the accused’s construction project,” Maj Sothy said yesterday.
“The plaintiff demanded the accused to refund his money but the accused
refused to pay him until today,” he said.
He added that to claim repayment of the funds, Yusuf later lodged the
lawsuit with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 15, which led to the
accused’s arrest on Wednesday.
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