Case of CPP Dick [aka Kok] back in court

Dick An (aka Kok An) answering to reporters (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Kok An case back in court

Wednesday, 04 July 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Heng Chheang, former deputy general director of the Anco Brothers Company, was brought by prison security guards yesterday for questioning to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court over fresh allegations of defamation and fraud filed by Senator Kok An last year, officials said.

Investigating judge Ly Lipmeng said Chheang, who is serving a three-year jail term at Prey Sar prison for breach of trust, was questioned over the allegations relating to statements he made to local media outlets during the tempestuous proceedings against him last year.

“Although I have already questioned him, this investigation is not completely done yet – I will continue investigating him,” the judge told the Post by telephone yesterday, but would not comment in any greater detail.

Chheang and his wife, former university rector Kolap, were sued last year by An for allegedly embezzling more than US$58 million from the Anco company.

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Phnom Penh International University. The building alone is worth around 8 million US dollars.

Heang Chheang leaves the Supreme Court in Phnom Penh after being denied bail on October 12th, 2011.

Tep Kolap being tended to by a relative, while being treated in the Cambodian-Russian Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh earlier this month.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
By Alice McKeever
Vice.com

If you happened to catch our film on Cambodia's first ever Fashion Week, you probably know that the tiny Kingdom has come a long way since the murderous days of the Khmer Rouge and its dirty, awash-with-limbless-children streets.

Sadly, however, its courts remain rife with corruption: Trials unattended by defendants and surprise verdicts are dime a dozen in Phnom Penh, while land grabs are definitely not a thing of the past. Such is the case of Senator Kok (quite the appropriate name, no?), a renegade tycoon who, after getting ahold of the country's industries, has now set his eye on its largest educational institution, Phnom Penh International University, throwing anyone who dares stand in his way in jail (even though he's related to most of them).

I called up my friend Vincent Maclsaac, a Canadian journalist based in Phnom Penh who is investigating the story.

VICE: Hi Vincent, how is Cambodia treating you? You don't sound too chirpy.

Vincent Maclsaac: No, not at all, it’s fascinating! No matter how depressing the story that you're working on might be, there are always inspiring people, fighting for justice.

[Hun Xen's crony] Kok An withdraws civil suit

Kok An, chairman of Anco Brothers Company, speaks to the Post outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in December last year. Photo Supplied

Thursday, 05 January 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Senator Kok An has withdrawn a civil suit seeking more than US$63 million from the husband and wife convicted last month of breach of trust for embezzling funds from his company Anco Brothers, Phnom Penh Municipal Court President Chiv Keng said yesterday.

“He has withdrawn his civil lawsuit against Heng Chheang and Tep Kolap, but he has included [his demand for repayment and compensation] in his criminal lawsuit,” Chiv Keng told the Post.

The request for $5 million in compensation and repayment of more than $58 million has been added to the criminal suit that will be heard at the Court of Appeal, Kok An’s lawyer Long Dara said.

Heng Chheang, former Anco deputy general director and his wife, Tep Kolap, former rector of the Phnom Penh International University, were found guilty last month of embezzling $34 million from the company between 2008 and 2010.

Hun Xen's crony plans to build a new airport on Cambodia's largest island

Hun Xen's cronies: Kith Meng (L) and CPP Tycoon-Senator Kok An (R)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - A Cambodian developer plans to build a new airport on the country's largest island, which was leased to his company by the government in 2008, local media reported Wednesday. Kith Meng, chairman of Royal Group, told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper that bulldozers had been sent to the 7,800-hectare island to clear forest for a runway, but he declined to provide more details on the development.

He said the company also plans to construct electricity and water facilities for the island, which has been earmarked as a potential tourist destination.

Kith Meng said he recently travelled to the island with a dozen other potential investors, including casino owner Phu Kok An, who is also a senator for the ruling Cambodian People's Party.