By Van Roeun and Saing Soenthrith
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Eight inmates and a guard were killed at Battambang Provincial Prison Sunday, ending an hours-long police siege that ensued after an armed prisoner took the guard hostage and tried to stage a jail-break, a rights worker and a police official said.
More than 100 police and military police officers surrounded the prison after inmate Chuon Thy, armed with a handgun and hand grenade, took prison guard Soeung Khun hostage at about 9 am, said Adhoc Provincial Coordinator Yin Mengly, who is investigating the case.
Police threw a smoke grenade into the jail at about 3 pm, and a large explosion was heard shortly thereafter from inside the compound, said Deputy Provincial Police Chief Mao Toan.
He added that he believed this was the sound of Chuon Thy detonating his grenade and killing the inmates when they realized their escape plan had failed.
"They killed themselves because they were determined to get out," Mao Toan said. "We wanted to arrest them alive."
Some 50 prisoners hoping to escape with Chuon Thy had surrendered to police prior to the smoke grenade being thrown, he said.
"There was around only seven of them who refused to turn themselves in," Mao Toan said. "Then the armed authorities threw a smoke grenade into the compound."
Chuon Thy, who was serving 17 years for robbery, had blindfolded the guard and strapped the hand grenade to the guard's body prior to the blast, Yin Mengly said.
The grenade may have been accidentally triggered during the confusion caused by the smoke, he said, though he said more information was needed to ascertain exactly how the men had died.
Shortly after police threw the smoke grenade, shots were heard fired in rapid succession, but it was not clear who had fired them or from where, Yin Mengly added. "We have to have more investigation of why this happened."
Prison guards should have searched visitors more closely to ensure that weapons were not brought into the prison, Yin Mengly said.
"The prison guards should have checked everything their relatives brought in," he said.
National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy arrived on the scene by helicopter in the morning, and intervention police from Phnom Penh were also at the scene, Yin Mengly said.
Hok Lundy and Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment. Deputy National Police Commissioner Sok Phal said he was too busy to speak to a reporter.
Prison director Kang said he was in a meeting with Hok Lundy and was too busy to discuss the case. Battambang Provincial Governor Prach Chan could not be reached for comment.
More than 100 police and military police officers surrounded the prison after inmate Chuon Thy, armed with a handgun and hand grenade, took prison guard Soeung Khun hostage at about 9 am, said Adhoc Provincial Coordinator Yin Mengly, who is investigating the case.
Police threw a smoke grenade into the jail at about 3 pm, and a large explosion was heard shortly thereafter from inside the compound, said Deputy Provincial Police Chief Mao Toan.
He added that he believed this was the sound of Chuon Thy detonating his grenade and killing the inmates when they realized their escape plan had failed.
"They killed themselves because they were determined to get out," Mao Toan said. "We wanted to arrest them alive."
Some 50 prisoners hoping to escape with Chuon Thy had surrendered to police prior to the smoke grenade being thrown, he said.
"There was around only seven of them who refused to turn themselves in," Mao Toan said. "Then the armed authorities threw a smoke grenade into the compound."
Chuon Thy, who was serving 17 years for robbery, had blindfolded the guard and strapped the hand grenade to the guard's body prior to the blast, Yin Mengly said.
The grenade may have been accidentally triggered during the confusion caused by the smoke, he said, though he said more information was needed to ascertain exactly how the men had died.
Shortly after police threw the smoke grenade, shots were heard fired in rapid succession, but it was not clear who had fired them or from where, Yin Mengly added. "We have to have more investigation of why this happened."
Prison guards should have searched visitors more closely to ensure that weapons were not brought into the prison, Yin Mengly said.
"The prison guards should have checked everything their relatives brought in," he said.
National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy arrived on the scene by helicopter in the morning, and intervention police from Phnom Penh were also at the scene, Yin Mengly said.
Hok Lundy and Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment. Deputy National Police Commissioner Sok Phal said he was too busy to speak to a reporter.
Prison director Kang said he was in a meeting with Hok Lundy and was too busy to discuss the case. Battambang Provincial Governor Prach Chan could not be reached for comment.
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