Impostor tries to impersonate Pov Panhapich’s “dead” father

27 Feb 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A man impersonated Pov Panhapich’s father in order to visit her in the Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, while famous doctors were operating to remove a bullet which shattered the second collar bone from the singer’s neck. This bullet made her paralyzed from the neck down.

Rasmey Kampuchea newspaper reported that an imposter posing as her father visited Panhapich on 25 Feb, but was prevented entry, according to the hospital. In reality, Panhapich’s father died since 2006.

Because of her injuries and her fame as a singer, the hospital placed great attention in caring for her and in providing her security. Reporters are prevented from entering the hospital entrance gate. According to a directive by Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, the deputy director of the Cho Ray hospital, no reporters are allowed to go near the victim, nor be provided with medical documents related to the victim. Furthermore, doctors involved in her care are ordered not to discuss about the victim’s condition without prior authorization form the hospital director. In order to improve security, the 5 persons accompanying Panhapich to Vietnam are also not allowed to visit Panhapich, they have been placed in Building 25, a location reserved for the family of the victim.

The Cho Ray hospital also reported several irregular activities. A Cambodian man claiming to be the father’s of victim, insisted on visiting her. When confronted by the hospital staff to provide proof that he is indeed the father’s of the victim, the man replied that he is in fact her uncle’s instead. In reality, Panhapich’s father died since 2006.

In the afternoon of 25 Feb, a young Cambodian man who claimed to be a relative of Panhapich, but who refused to provide any details, met with the Cho Ray hospital doctors asking to become the sole caregiver of Panhapich, and he also asked the doctor to prevent all others to approach her. The man claimed that he was concerned that someone would remove the oxygen pipe from Panhapich. The hospital staff politely asked the man to leave the premises, and security officers have been placed all around Panhapich’s hospital bed.