Court jails Thach Setha for issuing dud cheques

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea             

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday sentenced former vice-president of Candlelight Party (CP) Thach Setha to 18 months in prison on charges of issuing dud cheques worth more than $330,000 in 2019.

The court also ordered him to pay $330,000 to the plaintiff in the case.

Judge Chhun Davy said Setha, 70, was charged with “issuance of dud cheque” under Article 231 of the Law on Negotiable Instrument and Payment Transactions.

“The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to sentence Setha to 18 months in prison and a fine of 5 million Riels,” Judge Davy said in his judgment.

“The court orders him to pay $33,400 in damages to plaintiff Hai Vanrin,” she said.

Judge Davy said Setha borrowed $33,400 from Hai Vanrin, a representative of the Rin Chhay Co Ltd in 2018.

She said that on November 26, 2019, Setha issued five cheques amounting to $33,400 to Vanrin to pay his debt.

She said when Vanrin banked in the cheques, the cheques bounced.

“Vanrin asked Setha to repay him but Setha never did.

“Vanrin sued Setha on December 2, 2019, and Setha was arrested on January 16 this year,” the judge said.

Son Chum Chuon, one of Setha’s lawyers, described the verdict as “unfair for Setha because the court did not have enough evidence to charge Setha”.

Chum Chuon said Setha did not issue any cheques to Vanrin as accused.

Chum Chuon said he would discuss with Setha about filing an appeal.

Setha was also tried in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of allegedly inciting labourers in South Korea to join forces with CP  to overthrow the government led by former Prime Minister Hun Sen in January this year.

In the case, Setha was charged with two counts of “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest and incitement to discriminate” under Articles 494, 495 and 496 of the Criminal Code.

Chum Choun said Setha denied the allegations during the hearing and told the court that the incitement charges were politically motivated. 

He urged the Court to drop the charges.

The court is scheduled to pass judgment on October 18.


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