The wife of murdered Shimmex Group owner Ung Meng Cheu, who was gunned down in November on a busy Phnom Penh street, appeared in court yesterday for questioning over a separate dispute with another tycoon whom she claimed owed the family $5 million.

Taing Kim Chheng told the court that the tycoon, whom the court did not name, owed the large sum to the family after purchasing construction materials. But when he was asked to pay off the debt, he did so with fake cheques that subsequently bounced, according to her lawyer, Lach Samrong.

“The prosecutor questioned my client related to her personal lawsuit where she is suing a tycoon who owed her money and issued fake cheques for his $5 million debt,” he said.

The unnamed tycoon and Meng Cheu allegedly got into heated arguments over the unpaid debt in the lead-up to Meng Cheu’s killing.

The lead suspect in the murder of Meng Cheu, tycoon Thong Sarath, fled after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Five of his bodyguards have been arrested in connection with the killing and his parents are facing trial on unrelated weapons charges.