Government lawyers hold direct meetings with 414 additional victims of the Brilliant City project in Siem Reap province on October 13. Government Lawyers’ Team
Government lawyers have concluded a series of meetings with Cambodian citizens impacted by the Brilliant City project, previously led by ex-Oknha Leng Channa. Following these discussions, nearly 5,000 individuals granted the attorneys legal authority to act on their behalf.
After Prime Minister Hun Manet authorised legal protection for the victims in May, state lawyers held 14 direct meetings with victims, during which a total of 4,929 individuals granted them power-of-attorney for legal representation and protection of their rights and interests, according to Senior Minister Key Tech, lead counsel, during the last meeting in Siem Reap province on Sunday, October 13.
"Today’s meeting, the 14th, is considered the last meeting with people residing in the country. There are still citizens working abroad who have also been affected by the Brilliant City company,” Tech stated.
He noted that for citizens residing abroad, the government is working through embassies to facilitate the transfer of their legal rights to state attorneys via the Cambodian embassy in their respective countries. However, he mentioned that the exact number of victims abroad remains unknown.
Tech explained that the main purpose of the direct meetings was to formalise the transfer of power, as required by law, allowing the lawyers to move forward with the court's legal procedures.
"These meetings are also focused on collecting documents and evidence showing the citizens’ investments with the company and the losses they incurred. These are crucial pieces of evidence that citizens must present to the government lawyers for legal protection,” he added.
In May, Prime Minister Hun Manet authorised legal protection for victims of the Brilliant City project, previously led by ex-Oknha Leng Channa. Government Lawyers’ Team
The first 12 meetings were held at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction in Phnom Penh, with 4,111 citizens transferring their rights to government attorneys. The last two meetings were held in Siem Reap on October 12 and 13, during which 818 citizens granted their legal rights.
In the Siem Reap meetings, affected citizens came from various provinces, including Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri.
Uoth Phairin, 31, revealed that he and his three siblings were defrauded by the company, losing approximately $170,000, with his immediate family alone losing over $50,000. He transferred his legal rights to a state attorney in May.
Phairin stated that he and other victims are eagerly awaiting a resolution, hoping to recover compensation to repay their debts.
"We borrowed money from the banks to invest in the company, using our property as collateral. I also borrowed money from a private lender to repay the bank. We are paying interest of 1.5 million riel [$368.87] per month,” he stated.
Led by Senior Minister Key Tech, a team of government lawyers has held 14 direct meetings with victims of the fraud since May. Government Lawyers’ Team
He explained that his family sells diesel and other goods at home to cover the interest, while his siblings have migrated to work in Thailand.
Yin Srang, spokesperson for Siem Reap Provincial Court, stated that the investigating judge is proceeding with the case, conducting inquiries in accordance with established procedures.
“The judge is still carrying out the investigation phase. The court will announce the hearing date once [it] is completed,” he said.
Brilliant City CEO Leng Channa, 36, along with two deputy directors, was charged by the court in March with "serious fraud" under Articles 377 and 380(5) of the Kingdom’s Penal Code, "money laundering" under Article 38 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act and "failure to meet obligations concerning negotiable instruments" under Article 231 of the Law on Negotiable Instruments and Payment Transactions.
The court also ordered the pre-trial detention of the three accused at the provincial prison. In addition, the court froze 183 of the company’s bank accounts in April.
