French-Cambodian Businessman acquitted in $700,000 fraud case

[geovalin]

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday acquitted a French-Cambodian  and released him from prison after four years, over an accusation that he defrauded his company out of more than $700,000 between 2014 and 2015. Presiding Judge Im Vannak identified the accused as You Chikhiang, 55, the  former general director of HICLO Seafood.

 

Judge Vannak identified the plaintiffs as Stephang Chappaz Guillaume, Merle Paul Autoine and Charles Emmanuel, all French stakeholders in HICLO Seafood living in Paris, France. He said Chikhiang was charged with “Breach of Special Trust by Administrators or Other Persons” under Article 393 of the Criminal Code after being arrested on January 6, 2017.

 

“The accused Chikhiang is found not guilty in this case,” Judge Vannak said yesterday, emphasising the decision was due to there not being enough evidence against him. Judge Vannak said the court found no evidence of fraud because the amount of money the accused received from the plaintiffs was spent on the construction of a factory and its operational costs, not for his personal use as they claimed.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50806963/businessman-acquitted-in-700000-fraud-case/

[JCauto]

Seems a bit fishy, non?