Police corruption in Cambodia comes home to a friend

Always hard at work, our underpaid constabulary.

A Khmer-American friend of mine acknowledges that he made a mistake when trusting a Cambodian acquaintance.  That trust has cost him well more than $1 million, a loss he can ill-afford.  Not many ordinary Khmer-American businessmen could.

From what I gather, my friend — call him Hak — doled out monthly payments to the guy.  The man — I’ll call him Vwibol — apparently was to lend that money to other Cambodians at admittedly exorbitant, but commonly charged, rates.  (The details that Hak provides tend to be kind of vague, so I am not even positive about the nature of his monthly investments.)

Every month, Vwibol would return some thousands of dollars to Hak. But the money stopped coming in September.  Vwibol says

Weekly Roundup: Tax abatements, NYC’s worrisome Q2, U.S. recovery, gay neighborhoods, outdated decor, 30 richest cities and much more

Cuomo says he expects legislature to act in fall, so city retaining abated property tax levels

And appeals of property tax assessments near record number

Manhattan market verges on worried in second quarter

When seeking roommate on Craigslist, the details really matter

Landmark body approves one of three Riverside-West End Avenue historic districts, but others yet to face votes

Region’s foreclosure rate continues to grow

Neighbors rally to save historic Dutch Kills farmhouse

Condo boards

Weekly roundup: Foreclosure scandal gets messier

Here’s your chance to catch up with news included to inform, enlighten and perhaps even entertain you. To read about The Big Apple, check out another of today’s three posts.

LIVE! FROM 71 MURRAY STREET, IT’S A FORMER NEWS ANCHOR

DONNY MAKES A HONEY OF A DEAL, AND NO, IT’S NOT OSMAND

PALM BEACH HOME OF

Now, 2 more luxury condos on the block this week

Two sensational condos are to be auctioned this week in Manhattan.

Museum Tower

One is a 1,204-sf one-bedroom apartment on the 18th floor of the Museum Tower.  To be sold fully furnished, the condo has a Midtown address: 15 W. 53rd St., #18F.  With high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and one and a half baths, the unit is in a building with every imaginable amenity.

The owner was Dan Wise, accused in April of running a $67 million Ponzi scheme based on phony real estate investments.

The other one is an 889-sf unit with balcony overlooking Times Square from the 11th Floor.  Its address is 1600 Broadway, #11B.