Saturday, October 21, 2006

Adhoc: Police officers allowed their colleague to escape after killing a SRP commune councilor

Saturday and Sunday, October 21 -22, 2006
SRP Commune Councilor's Killer Still at Large

By Kuch Naren
The Cambodia Daily

A trainee police officer who shot an SRP commune councilor in the head in Kompong Cham province on Monday night remains at large, police said. Long Sopheak, 22, the son of a CPP deputy district governor, shot and killed Thoeng Thea, 27, an SRP member of the Popel commune council in Ponhea Krek district during an argument which reportedly began when a colleague of the police officer taunted the victim over his political affiliation. Seng Sokim, deputy provincial police chief, said a police report into the killing was sent to the court on Wednesday but an arrest warrant has not yet been issued. But Seng Sokim added that his officers are searching for Long Sopheak. Adhoc provincial coordinator Neang Sovath said their investigation found that other police officers were present when Thoeng Thea was killed and that they allowed their colleague to escape. "The shooting happened in front of the Kong Kang commune police office, which reveals that police neglected to arrest the gunman," Neang Sovath said. "Police officers who shoot people dead are never arrested, not even one. I have no hope the suspect will be arrested."

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