Police Question Three Guarding Dead Drug Suspect

Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
23 August 2007

Authorities Thursday were questioning the three men guarding a drug suspect who fell to his death Tuesday, in what police say was a suicide.

The men guarding Oum Chhay, a key suspect in a drugs production case, said they were unable to prevent the accident.

The guards had accepted responsibility for failing to prevent the suicide and were willing to accept demotion or jail time, said Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak.

"We did question them. We asked them individually.They admitted that the accident happened so fast and they accept responsibility," he said.

Police said previously Oum Chhay lept from the building while his guards were away using the toilet.

The punishment of the three guards was not yet determined, Khieu Sopheak said.

Oum Chhay's death has weakened an investigation into a methamphetamines lab raided by police in April.

Another leader in the drugs production case, Chea Chong, is being held in Prey Sar prison, undergoing questions, police said.

Mystery shrouding Oum Chhay's apparent suicide: The window he jumped from is only from four to five meters high

An official looking at the window from which Oum Chhay allegedly jumped from (Photo: Koh Santepheap newspaper)

The alleged body of Oum Chhay is seen below the balcony where he allegedly jumped from; Inset a photo of Oum Chhay (Photo: Koh Santepheap newspaper)

August 22, 2007
Mystery surrounds suicide of key drugs suspect of Cambodia

Chhay Chhay Investment owner Oum Chhay, also president of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Chamber of Commerce, allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday at Ministry of Interior's anti-drug department following his arrest on Aug. 15 on drug charges, which on Wednesday triggered off various reports and speculations on local newspapers.

Oum Chhay, 51, also advisor for National Assembly President Heng Samrin, committed suicide at about 06:00 a.m. by throwing himself through a nine-meter-high window from the building of the ministry's anti-drug department, where he was detained for his alleged involvement in a narcotics production laboratory in Kompong Speu province, reported Cambodian-language newspaper the Sralanh Khmer.

However, according to other Cambodian-language newspapers the Monesekar Khmer and the Rasmei Kampuchea, the window is only from four to five meters high, which has prompted observers to think that the height is not enough to kill the prominent business man.

Police said that Oum Chhay leapt from the building after seeking permission to use the toilet from police guarding him, according to Cambodian-language newspaper the Khmer Machas Srok.

Journalists complained immediately as they were given access to information or the body to independently confirm Oum Chhay's cause of death, said the Moneakseakar Khmer.

Amid tightened security, the body of Oum Chhay was sent to the Monivong Hospital at 09:00 a.m. for diagnosis, with the postmortem showing he died from a cracked skull as a result of falling head-first from the window, said the Khmer Machas Srok.

An official from the department who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that Oum Chhay's wife seemed not to believe her husband had decided to kill himself, though she failed to elaborate, said the Moneaksekar Khmer.

However, Interior Ministry Spokesman Khieu Sopheak confirmed that committing suicide was the sole reason behind the death, adding that officials who examined the body of the late businessman can clarify the issue, said the Rasmei Kampuchea.

"(Oum Chhay) jumped from the first floor - like diving - and his head went down first. We fell very bad about his death," English-language newspaper the Cambodian Daily quoted Khieu Sopheak as saying.

Oum Chhay's has been given to his relatives to arrange a funeral.

Heng Samrin left for Malaysia on Sunday to attend regional meeting and will return on Wednesday. He had denied any knowledge about Oum Chhay's connection with the case.

Oum Chhay was arrested on Aug. 15 near the border with Thailand, for being allegedly involved in the drug production case in Kompong Speu province, where the Cambodian police staged a raid on April 1 and arrested 18 people.

The chemicals found in the drug lab there were destroyed on Aug. 16. With the materials, over 54 million U.S. dollars worth of drugs could be produced.

In a related development, Chea Cheung, the alleged mastermind of the case, was arrested late on Tuesday in Svay Rieng province near the border with Vietnam and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, police officers said on condition of anonymity.

Chea was former adviser for Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay, but Chhay denied any connection with him.

Source: Xinhua