One can only hope the competent authorities are not too bogged down in the " Buffalobackpackers bus" scam that they can focus their energies on this one.

Cambodia News, (Kampot): After examining the case for the prosecution and questioning the suspects, on the afternoon of April 27, 2023, Mr. Pheap Sophea, the Investigating Judge of the Court of First Instance of Kampot, issued an order to detain the President of the Chea Saran Development Company and eight of his employees in Kampot Provincial Prison on charges of fraud.
Police continue to investigate the charges against the company.

400-500 Takeo Residents were also Scammed by Chea Saran

Cambodia News, (Takeo Province): After more than 400 people living in Takeo Province filed a complaint that they were cheated on land deals by the property tycoon, Chea Saran, the Takeo provincial authorities held a public meeting to find a solution for them on Friday morning, May 5, 2023.

After listening to the requests of the cheated citizens, Mr. Ouch Phea, Governor of Takeo Province, stated:
- First, the people who say they have been cheated should either file a complaint in Kampot province, or else file their complaint at Takeo Provincial Hall, who will then intervene on their behalf in Kampot province.
- Second, in the case of people who borrowed money from the bank, the Chea Saran Company is responsible for paying the interest on their bank loans.
- Thirdly, land title deeds that were given to banks as colateral to pay the Chea Saran company will be returned to the original owner and the company will repay the bank.

The Governor of Takeo Province also requested that bank and microfinance company staff must not threaten or harrass any citizens who borrowed money related to Chea Saran Co Ltd, and that local authorities must monitor and intervene to assist people in financial distress because of this property scam.

It should be reminded that at the end of this meeting, the majority of people accepted the solution of the Governor of Takeo Province.

Happy ending?

May 24, 2023
Over 5,000 families file complaints against Kampot tycoon

So far, more than 5,000 families (victims) have lodged lawsuits against Tycoon Chea Saron and eight of his colleagues with Kampot provincial police and the provincial court to demand for their money lost when investing in a land project.

Major General Mao Chanmathurith, the Chief of Kampot Provincial Police, told Khmer Times that until now there were many victims travelling from different districts and provinces to lodge their lawsuits against Oknha Saron and his colleagues.
He added that the number of the victims who were cheated via investing with the tycoon’s land projects is expected to increase to about 6,000 families.

...
[Court spokesman] Boreth said that their pre-trial hearing will be held after the investigating judge had completed and closed the investigation. “Because this is a complicated criminal case and there are many more victims, the investigating judge will take a long time to work on it. I think that the investigating judge will summon all the involved parties in the case to attend the hearing after the investigation is done in the next three or four months,” he said.

According to the court’s document, the nine accused were identified as Oknha Saron, the owner of Chea Saron Realty Co., Ltd;, and his colleagues Eam Samrorb, Yeth Vanna, Rom Vichheka; Chea Sary, Chea Sarith, Vorn Kean, Luch Reap, and Pheang Hour. They were arrested on April 16 based on the victims’ complaint in connection with allegedly cheating more than 5,000 families in Kampot province out of over $40 million.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501295747/ ... st-tycoon/