By Saing Soenthrith and Van Roeun
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The director of Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Sunday denied a newspaper report that an arrest warrant has been issued for well-known former Phnom Penh municipal police chief Heng Pov.
Citing unnamed sources within the court, leading Khmer-language daily newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea on Sunday printed a front-page article claiming that a warrant for Heng Pov's arrest had been issued on July 26, and that the former police chief had left the country.
"We don't know about this," said court Director Chiv Keng. "It’s a rumor."
According to the newspaper, the warrant allegedly contained four accusations.
Heng Pov could not be reached for comment.
Pov Vanny, a daughter of Heng Pov, said she was unaware of any warrant for her father's arrest and that she knew nothing about such allegations.
"I learned of this case by reading the newspaper today," she said, adding that she was not sure whether her father was currently in the county.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Sok Phal and National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha also said they were unaware of any warrant for Heng Pov’s arrest.
Pen Samithy, editor-in-chief of Rasmei Kampuchea, said he could not formally confirm the information contained in the story, but he maintained that several senior government officials had told him on condition of anonymity that the story was correct.
Heng Pov was removed and replaced as the city's top police official by Touch Naruth on Jan 13. Following Heng Pov’s surprise removal, more than 10 Phnom Penh police officials were arrested on various charges, including torturing and killing a woman in police custody and killing a municipal court judge. On July 21, six of the officers were found guilty of beating the woman to death and were sentenced to 12 years in prison each.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
Citing unnamed sources within the court, leading Khmer-language daily newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea on Sunday printed a front-page article claiming that a warrant for Heng Pov's arrest had been issued on July 26, and that the former police chief had left the country.
"We don't know about this," said court Director Chiv Keng. "It’s a rumor."
According to the newspaper, the warrant allegedly contained four accusations.
Heng Pov could not be reached for comment.
Pov Vanny, a daughter of Heng Pov, said she was unaware of any warrant for her father's arrest and that she knew nothing about such allegations.
"I learned of this case by reading the newspaper today," she said, adding that she was not sure whether her father was currently in the county.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Sok Phal and National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha also said they were unaware of any warrant for Heng Pov’s arrest.
Pen Samithy, editor-in-chief of Rasmei Kampuchea, said he could not formally confirm the information contained in the story, but he maintained that several senior government officials had told him on condition of anonymity that the story was correct.
Heng Pov was removed and replaced as the city's top police official by Touch Naruth on Jan 13. Following Heng Pov’s surprise removal, more than 10 Phnom Penh police officials were arrested on various charges, including torturing and killing a woman in police custody and killing a municipal court judge. On July 21, six of the officers were found guilty of beating the woman to death and were sentenced to 12 years in prison each.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
1 comment:
This is clearly shown about the power struggle between Hok Lundy and Heng Pov. Hok Lundy, Hun Sen and Heng Pov're all killers just the same. Keeping Hun Sen in power by guns, and now it comes back to haunt them all. All these guys' hands are full of blood.
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