By Saing Soenthrith
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Two women were detained in Prey Sar prison Tuesday after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged them with breach of trust in connection with the collapse of a massive Tong Tin savings scheme two weeks ago in the capital's Russei Keo district.
The Tong Tin collapse led to the two women being held hostage for days by an angry mob and severely beaten.
Yi Socheat 32, and Yi Channy, 27, were charged Monday by the court based on testimony by angry residents of Chroy Changva commune's Ken Klaing village, Judge Chhay Kong said Wednesday.
The women are the daughters of the Tong Tin manager, Ly Nay, 62, who has fled.
Chhay Kong said that an investigating judge will now begin to question the women, he said.
During the three-day hostage-taking, villagers claimed that 1,656 of them had been cheated out of $610,000 in savings.
Mom Keosivin, a lawyer representing the two sisters, said they should be released on bail while they recover from the injuries they received at the hands of the mob.
"My clients are still sick from their wounds, because both my client’ heads have between 30 and 50 stitches from the mob beating," Mom Keosivin said.
"Their wounds are still not normal, they need to treat their injuries," he said.
Mom Keosivin added that he intends to file complaints with the court against the villagers who he said held his clients hostage for three days without food and attempted to kill them.
Complaint will also be filed against the village chief for allegedly selling the women's motorbike and against police for holding his clients for more than the legal 48 hours in the local police station.
Tong Tin savings and loan plans are common in Cambodia where trust in the official banking sector is low.
The Tong Tin collapse led to the two women being held hostage for days by an angry mob and severely beaten.
Yi Socheat 32, and Yi Channy, 27, were charged Monday by the court based on testimony by angry residents of Chroy Changva commune's Ken Klaing village, Judge Chhay Kong said Wednesday.
The women are the daughters of the Tong Tin manager, Ly Nay, 62, who has fled.
Chhay Kong said that an investigating judge will now begin to question the women, he said.
During the three-day hostage-taking, villagers claimed that 1,656 of them had been cheated out of $610,000 in savings.
Mom Keosivin, a lawyer representing the two sisters, said they should be released on bail while they recover from the injuries they received at the hands of the mob.
"My clients are still sick from their wounds, because both my client’ heads have between 30 and 50 stitches from the mob beating," Mom Keosivin said.
"Their wounds are still not normal, they need to treat their injuries," he said.
Mom Keosivin added that he intends to file complaints with the court against the villagers who he said held his clients hostage for three days without food and attempted to kill them.
Complaint will also be filed against the village chief for allegedly selling the women's motorbike and against police for holding his clients for more than the legal 48 hours in the local police station.
Tong Tin savings and loan plans are common in Cambodia where trust in the official banking sector is low.
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