A father and daughter, arrested last month following a complaint by a powerful landowner who wants their land in Phnom Penh, called on the tycoon to engage with them face to face in a courtroom hearing yesterday.

Tycoon Khun Sear has attempted to force Ly Sreang Kheng and his family from their home in the capital’s Tuol Kork district for years, to make way for an unknown development.

Sreang Kheng and his daughter, Ly Seav Minh, were arrested on November 18 on charges of destruction of property after months of alleged intimidation from Khun Sear’s employees and local authorities, including having snakes thrown into their house, having their dogs poisoned and parts of their house burned.

“My clients demand tycoon Khun Sear meet them face to face in court, because he is the plaintiff in the case,” the family’s lawyer, Choung Choungy, said after they were questioned at Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.

The case was adjourned yesterday by investigating judge Ly Lip Meng pending further questioning.