Kuy Vat, a former senior executive at CIC Partner Co. Ltd and owner of Park Coffee, has been detained in custody. He was charged with failure to fulfil obligations related to negotiable instruments on August 27, according to Y Rin, spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Vat was arrested on August 24 by the Criminal Police of the Ministry of Interior in connection with allegations that he issued multiple bad checks and defrauded millions of dollars.

“[He] has been charged with failing to fulfil obligations related to negotiable instruments. He issued checks without money. The judge decided to detain him yesterday,” Rin told The Post on Wednesday, August 28.

Rin declined to comment further on the case, claiming that he was busy. 

According to Article 231 of the Law on Negotiable Instruments and Payment Transactions, the charge carries a penalty ranging from 2 million to 6 million riels ($500 to $1,500), and a term of imprisonment from 1 to 3 years, excluding the obligation to settle the amount involved.

In a related business scandal, the Siem Reap Provincial Court has ordered the authorities to apprehend Oknha Ly Um Eng in connection with the use of forged public documents in 2022. A warrant to bring her to court has been issued, but the accused has so far eluded capture.

Yin Srang, spokesperson for the Siem Reap Provincial Court, told The Post on August 28 that the court issued an arrest warrant for Ly um Eng in the case of "using forged public documents”, but was unaware of who had filed the complaint against her.

“The case is in the judge's hands. The warrant has been issued for enforcement, and the responsibility for carrying it out lies with the judicial police. Whether or not the warrant is successfully executed depends on them," he said. 

On August 7, Heng Cheangkry, an investigating judge at the court, issued an arrest warrant for Um Eng, 52, whose current residence is listed as Knar Village, Chreav Commune, in Siem Reap town and province.

"Um Eng is under investigation for using forged public documents, in Siem Reap town, from February to October 2022. This offense is punishable under Article 630 of the Penal Code,” said the warrant.

Oknha Ly Um Eng is wanted in connection with the use of forged public documents in 2022. She remains on the run. Supplied

Before issuing the arrest warrant, the court issued an earlier summons demanding she appear in court.

However, in a July 25 letter, the Siem Reap Provincial military police, confirmed that officers went to the accused's residence, but could not locate her.

Judge Cheangkry issued a subsequent order which explained that to ensure a thorough investigation according to legal procedures, a warrant should be issued to apprehend the accused and bring her before the court for further legal proceedings.

The judge ordered law enforcement officers to search for Um Eng and hold her in a prison or detention centre. 

The head of the prison or detention centre is instructed to accept custody of Um Eng and bring her before the investigating judge as soon as possible, if the investigation is still ongoing.

Ly um Eng was granted the honorific of "Oknha" through a royal decree in January 2013.

However, Oknha Hun Lak, spokesperson for the Cambodian Oknha Association, stated that he was unaware if Ly um Eng still holds the title of Oknha. 

“I am not aware of it ... because the association hasn’t updated the titles yet. It will be easier when we update all the titles,” he said.

He noted that actions taken by individuals, whether they hold the title of Oknha or not, are personal matters and not related to the association.

He explained that according to the royal records, more than 1,400 Oknha titles have been granted, but the precise current number of Oknhas is not available.

Aside from her land disputes with private individuals, Ly Um Eng, a real estate entrepreneur, is also embroiled in land disputes with the Apsara National Authority, who administer the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap.