Former court clerk released on bail

A FORMER Appeal Court clerk was released on conditional bail by a Phnom Penh Municipal Court investigating judge on Tuesday following his arrest for graf t by t he Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) on Friday.

Tep Thyrith, 46, was charged with “misappropriating public funds” under Article 593 of the Criminal Code after questioning on Sunday, Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesperson Kuch Kimlong told The Post on Tuesday.

Thyrit h faces t wo to five years in prison and a fine of bet ween four to 10 million riel ($1,000-$2,500) if found g uilt y.

“The suspect has been released on bail, wit h t he investigating judge in t he case placing him under t he super v ision of t he court,” Kimlong said.

He declined to comment on the reason behind Thyrith’s release.

However, despite him being detained by the ACU over his alleged involvement in corruption, the head of the antigraft body, Om Yentieng, is yet to release details of the case.

Yentieng could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Appeal Court spokesperson Touch Tharith confirmed that Thyrith had been a clerk at the court. He said Thyrith was dismissed on April 2 after failing to follow guidance from Appeal Court senior management regarding his behaviour, he said.

He then reportedly continued to use his former position to commit offences.

Tharith told The Post that complaints had been filed with the Appeal Court accusing Thyrith of taking money at the court’s general secretariat.

“Former court clerk Thyrith is being sued by many people for taking their money, but I cannot comment on whether the allegations are true,” Tharith said.