Court asks forgers to show skills

Three men who have been charged with faking the signatures of government officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen’s, were summonsed yesterday to Phnom Penh Municipal Court to demonstrate how they pulled off the scam.

Keo Mony, Phnom Penh Municipal Court investigating judge, said military police officer Sum Otdom, 24, and his alleged accomplices, Nov Sakhorn, 52, and Nheb Vanna, 51, were called to “show how they produced the fake stamps and signatures of the Cambodian leaders”.

“According to their demonstration, they are experienced and skillful in producing these fake things,” he said. Afterward, “they were sent back to Prey Sar Prison” to await trial.

Major Pov Ratana, a penal police officer at the Interior Ministry, said the suspects were arrested September 9 during a police raid on their house in the capital’s Sen Sok district.

“They produced the fake stamps … to give to the public in exchange for money.”

The defendants declined to comment.