Detained Australian missionary Martin Chan gets bail

Third time lucky. Martin Chan, an Australian missionary was released on bail Friday. CNE

Amid hugs and tears, Australian missionary Martin Chan has been given bail on his third attempt in a Phnom Penh court on Friday amidst a bitter legal dispute over the construction of a school.

“I’m relieved and feeling very good, I just want to go home with my wife,” the 49-year-old told AAP outside the court.

“Prison has been difficult but the guards were very good to me because they knew my story.”

Chan immediately hugged his wife and was taken back to Kandal Provincial Prison, where he shared a cell with up to 95 other inmates for the last three months, to sign-off on paperwork required for his release.

49 years old Martin Chan was arrested in November on charges of fraud, and he’s been denied bail.

Martin Chan was arrested and jailed in November as he and his wife Deborah Kim were boarding a flight to visit family in Hong Kong.

Mr Chan is facing criminal charges related to a failed school project he managed as a volunteer for His International Services, a Christian non-profit company set up to facilitate the build.