Police pay family of murdered SRP activist [-$1,350 for a life?]

Monday, 23 March 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

THE boss of a policeman wanted for the murder of an opposition party activist in Kampong Cham province earlier this month has paid compensation in a bid to have the case closed, said the victim's commune Chief Prak Vanny.

Prak Vanny said the family of the victim, 45-year-old Van Veth, had come to his office last week accompanied by Nhek Sony, the police chief of Battalion 617, to request that the commune chief sign to acknowledge the payment.

Van Veth, who was an activist with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party in Choam commune, was shot dead on March 4 in broad daylight by In Pheang, a policeman in Battalion 617. In Pheang has since been on the run.

Prak Vanny said police chief Nhek Sony had paid the family 5.5 million riels (US$1,350). However, the commune chief said the payment was irrelevant since the killing was a criminal case and would have to go to court.

"Nhek Sony took five-and-a half million riels to pay the victim's family and tried to close the case. They asked me to sign it and acknowledge this deal, but I refused," the Sam Rainsy Party commune chief said. "On behalf of the authorities, I must follow the legal route. I cannot compromise and close the case."

The Post on Sunday was unable to reach Nhek Sony for comment. But the provincial police chief, Nuon Samin, claimed the cash payment was to cover the family's funeral expenses as the investigation is ongoing. "My police are seeking to arrest the perpetrator," he said.

Provincial head of investigations at the rights group Licadho, Bu Vireak, said compensation could not terminate a criminal case.

Traffic police is asked to stop creating dissatisfaction

Monday, May 28, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Kep Chuktema, the Phnom Penh city governor, advises regular police force and the military police force of not taking actions that might affect local people. In a speech given at the meeting for announcing the results of the 2nd mandate commune administration in Khan Dangkao on 26 May 2007, the governor discussed about the traffic police, saying that they should stop creating dissatisfactions among the people stemming from the arrest of motorbikes along the city roads [to ask for bribes] as is actually done in Phnom Penh. Kep Chuktema added that the regular police force and the military police force should direct their activities to arrest overloaded trucks transporting sands, and olive colored cars (meaning military vehicles) which create problems when they drive inside the city, he said that only such action will bring the people to support the police force. He advises all level of CPP officials, from the village level all the way to the khan (district) level, of not being afraid to work hard, and of not being scared. He said that “we are the ruling party, we must think about the defense of safety and security, we must prevent thefts and robberies, and protect well public order at the local level.”