Witnesses Link Military Police To S'ville Slaying of Young Man
By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Police in Sihanoukville are investigating the shooting of a 23-year-old man that witnesses linked to two military police officers, police said Tuesday.
Khut Sokhon was killed around 1 am Sunday by a single shot through the neck from a K-54 handgun in Mittapheap district's Pi commune, said commune police chief Sam Prak.
Locals initially reported to police that the young man was beaten to death, but technical police determined that he had been shot to death and recovered the bullet at the scene, Sam Prak said.
"Several witnesses reported to police that two military police officers wearing bodyguard uniforms drove motorbikes to chase the boy until the boy died at the scene," he said.
Sam Prak added that he had already spoken with one of the two military police suspects—whose names he said he could not recall—but that the second suspect has fled.
The suspect said that the two officers chased Khut Sokhon down after he threw a rock that damaged the sign of a restaurant and discotheque. The victim was gunned down about 200 meters from that establishment, he added.
"The military police officer claimed that the shooting was done by the other officer who is on the run," Sam Prak said.
The victim's body was taken by military police officials and quickly cremated.
Sihanoukville military police chief Heang Nin declined to comment on the incident.
The victim's parents have lodged a complaint against the alleged killers, Sihanoukville penal police chief Kol Phally said.
Chhim Savuth, an investigator with the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, questioned why the officers gunned the young man down instead of simply arresting him.
"The boy had done something wrong," he said. "But the military police officers should only have arrested the victim if he damaged something."
CCHR is conducting its own investigation, he added.
Khut Sokhon was killed around 1 am Sunday by a single shot through the neck from a K-54 handgun in Mittapheap district's Pi commune, said commune police chief Sam Prak.
Locals initially reported to police that the young man was beaten to death, but technical police determined that he had been shot to death and recovered the bullet at the scene, Sam Prak said.
"Several witnesses reported to police that two military police officers wearing bodyguard uniforms drove motorbikes to chase the boy until the boy died at the scene," he said.
Sam Prak added that he had already spoken with one of the two military police suspects—whose names he said he could not recall—but that the second suspect has fled.
The suspect said that the two officers chased Khut Sokhon down after he threw a rock that damaged the sign of a restaurant and discotheque. The victim was gunned down about 200 meters from that establishment, he added.
"The military police officer claimed that the shooting was done by the other officer who is on the run," Sam Prak said.
The victim's body was taken by military police officials and quickly cremated.
Sihanoukville military police chief Heang Nin declined to comment on the incident.
The victim's parents have lodged a complaint against the alleged killers, Sihanoukville penal police chief Kol Phally said.
Chhim Savuth, an investigator with the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, questioned why the officers gunned the young man down instead of simply arresting him.
"The boy had done something wrong," he said. "But the military police officers should only have arrested the victim if he damaged something."
CCHR is conducting its own investigation, he added.
3 comments:
Under the old regime, we ran to police, military police & soldiers for help, but nowdays we are trying to escape from them because we see that they are the sources of threat, extortion, etc. Some of them becomes obedient dogs of corrupt officials, noterious Oknha or land grabbers. For example, soldiers of Kandal military regions serve as dogs to Phanpimek under Yeay Phan. Hun Sen has never said a single word about Yeay Phan land grabbing. It is most certain that he has a share in the nasty company.
I would like to say that the victim's relative should be looking into this very very good and let the military police who shot the boy pay the price or facing the same thing he did.
If I were the victim's relative, I will find this dangerous criminal myself and I will cut his head off.
I would like to encourage the victim's family to cut this dangerous criminal's head off.
You must be kidding. Life in Cambodia is too and too cheap.
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