A woman who impersonated a lawyer and falsified public documents has been sentenced to 6 years in prison by the Phnom Penh Capital Court and fined 8 million riels.
In a February 10 press release, the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia explained that Ouy Chanthy, born in 1981, accepted a cash payment to secure the release of two accused persons. She was struck off the register of paralegals by the association.
The institution filed a complaint against the Boeng Tumpon, Phnom Penh, resident on February 3 last year, accusing her of practicing law without authorisation, as well as forging public documents and using them.
The release noted that on January 9, 2026, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced the accused to 6 years in prison and a fine of 8,000,000 riel (approximately 2,000) for the above charges, committed in Phnom Penh during August 2023.
The court also ordered compensation of 40,000,000 ($10,000) riels to the association, the civil plaintiff.
A guilty verdict was announced on January 16, in the presence of the defence, but in absentia of the accused, who may appeal, according to the law. It was not immediately clear whether Chanthy is in custody.
The bar association described her actions as “severely damaging the prestige of the legal profession”.
