Disgraced former Phnom Penh Municipal Court president Ang Maltey was charged with embezzlement after the Anti-Corruption Unit accused him of extortion in relation to the case of police officer Thav Thavy, who was previously arrested on drug charges.

Kandal Provincial Court prosecutor Lem Sokunthear, who is handling the case, declined to comment, but a court official who wished to remain anonymous said that the prosecutor charged Malety under Article 601 of the Criminal Code following an interrogation.

“He was sent to Kandal Provincial Prison for detention,” the source said. “According to his charge, he will be sentenced to five to 10 years in prison if the evidence [against him] is proved.”

Investigating judge E Sovann could not be reached for comment.

Anti-Corruption Unit chief Om Yentieng said Maltey was charged for receiving an Audi SUV belonging to Thavy.

Maltey then reportedly handed over the vehicle to his son.

The car has since been seized after the municipal court on August 8 declared Thavy’s drug trafficking verdict.

“The exchange where he received the car is [corrupt] just like the case of a traffic police officer fining a driver who is innocent,” Yentieng said.

“This is why the ACU accused him of being [involved] in extortion, but we are waiting on the judge’s interrogation.”

Ang Maltey was removed from his position at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in February of this year after Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested that the former court chief took a hefty bribe to secure the release on bail of the parents of tycoon Thong Sarath, who is accused of plotting the murder of Ung Meng Cheu.

His parents, who were facing charges related to illegal firearms, were picked up again after allegedly trying to flee to Vietnam.

Maltey was arrested on Friday after evidence was gathered against him. He was previously arrested on April 8 over allegations of widespread graft.

Last February, Brigadier General Pich Prumhmony, an army general who served as Maltey’s personal aide and “enforcer”, was arrested for his role in allegedly helping to secure bribes from Sarath’s parents.

At the end of last year, anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Cambodia ranked the Kingdom 156 out of 175 on its global Corruption Perception Index, with a score of 21 out of 100, equal to that of fellow ASEAN nation Myanmar.