A former adviser to Senate President Hun Sen who was arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport in a multimillion dollar fraud case has been removed from his position as secretary of state at the Office of the Council of Ministers.

A royal decree from King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday stated that Duong Dara has been dismissed from his role at the government’s Cabinet.

Earlier this year, he was named in a complaint filed by villagers in southern Svay Rieng province that accused the Phnom Penh-based Phum Khmer Group of scamming them out of investments that ranged between US$40,000 and US$120,000.

The company promised that its duck farms, animal feed factories, restaurants and real estate holdings would generate a monthly 4% payment for investors, according to the complaint. One investor told Radio Free Asia that he never received any interest or dividend payments.

Duong Dara, who was arrested on Oct. 14 and charged with fraud after returning from a business trip to China, is believed to be a close friend of Phum Khmer’s chief executive, Som Sothea.

In addition to his position at the Council of Ministers, Duong Dara has also worked as a personal assistant and as an adviser to Hun Sen. He’s credited with creating and overseeing Hun Sen’s popular Facebook account, where the former prime minister continues to post statements and personal observations, as well as video clips from public appearances.

His arrest last month came just days after another adviser to Hun Sen, Ly Sameth, was publicly accused by Hun Sen of defrauding several Cambodians in a separate case.

Ly Sameth was arrested on Monday and transferred to Prey Sar prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

Duong Dara has been in custody at Phnom Penh Municipal Prison, also known as PJ Prison, since his arrest.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by RFA Khmer.

This post was originally published on Radio Free.