Cambodian aid worker accused of fraud saddened Jolie skipped him

Nov 23, 2006, 8:03 GMT

Phnom Penh - A Cambodian aid worker at the centre of embezzlement allegations regarding actress Angelina Jolie's charity work in the country said Thursday he was saddened and disappointed that the actress did not meet with him personally during her one-day visit.

Jolie made a surprise visit to Cambodia Wednesday and met with officials in the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin in the country's north-west, but did not make the short hop to nearby Battambang to visit him to discuss the allegations, Cambodian Vision in Development (CVD) director Mounh Sarath said by telephone.

Jolie's lawyers said last month they are considering suing Sarath, alleging they have a paper trail showing money went missing from Jolie's conservation projects while they were under CVD management. Sarath confirmed he had received a letter from the actress warning legal action may be pending.

The Oscar-winning actress has since cut funding to CVD and instead set up the Maddox Jolie Project (MJP), named after her son Maddox, whom she adopted from Cambodia in 2002.

MJP promises to provide up to 1.3 million dollars in conservation aid for Cambodia's forests over five years. The project was approved by the Cambodian government in 2003.

'I was very disappointed when I heard she had come and had not met me,' Sarath said. 'I really want to meet her and explain. I did not steal her money. I think she misunderstood when she heard from her lawyer.'

Sarath has said he may counter-sue for breach of contract, but maintains he does not hold any ill feelings towards Jolie, who has been granted honorary Cambodian citizenship by the government for her extensive charity work in the impoverished country, particularly in former Khmer Rouge areas.

Instead he accused rival aid workers of unfairly turning her against him and said he suspected they may have kept her from meeting with him during her flying visit.

'I still want to see her. I want to restore good relations. Over the past two years we met many times. Why wouldn't she see me this time to work things out?' he said.

New MJP executive director Stephan Bognar was unavailable for comment. Government officials said Jolie left Cambodia Wednesday.