Cambodian victims of 2004 scam to be repaid
PHNOM PENH (AP) – The Cambodian government said yesterday it would compensate the victims of a job scam who gave money to an agency that promised jobs on construction projects for the Olympic 2004 Games in Greece. Some 900 people, many of whom borrowed heavily or gave away their life savings to give 500 dollars as deposits, will be paid their money back, government spokesman Pen Thol said. Another 90 people were given refunds earlier by the employment company, the Cambodian Consultant Associates (CCA), after repeated protests. Pen Thol said the government will pay the workers from its own funds and recover the money from an auction of the seized assets of Pok Yuthea, the owner of CCA and an adviser to Senate President Chea Sim. Pok Yuthea was fired from the political job earlier this month and is believed to have fled the country.Pen Thol told reporters that the refunds will begin as early as Monday.
