One Killed, Three Injured by Drug User

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Written by DAP NEWS -- Saturday, 12 September 2009

One girl, aged 18, was killed and her family and younger sister were injured seriously by a resident when the victims did not agree to give US$ 70 to pay off a debt incurred buying narcotics. The suspect was arrested by Phnom Penh military police.

The incident took place at 6:30 am on Saturday at St 272, behind Chhuk Leap restaurant, Toeuk Thla Commune, Sen Sok District, Phnom Penh.

The drug dealer was identified as Sok Pitou, 25, living with the family, Ket Sophat, Phnom Penh Municipal Armed Forces Chief, told DAP News Cambodia.

The female victim killed was identified as Ou Chan Thou, aged 18, and her father, Ou Kong, 60, and sister, Ou Sreypov, 9, were also injured.

An official statement said that drugs sellers called Sok Pitou about a debt of US$200, saying that if he did not come up with the money, they would kill him. Then, Sok Pitou went into the house to kill his victims, but the father and sister of the family were only injured.

The statement added that, when the father came out of the room to help, Sok Pitou continued to attack family members. With the help of victim’s brother, the killed was eventually overpowered. Soon after he was arrested.

Ya Kim I, Phnom Penh Armed Forces Chief, on Saturday told DAP News Cambodia he will send Sok Pitou to the court on this Sunday morning to be put on trial.

“Sok Pitou wanted to kill all the family members to rob property and money. It is related to drugs use that it makes him to brazen and careless,” Ya Kim I added.

Chea Vannath, a social analyst, on Saturday urged authorities to take action over places where young miscreants commit immoral acts together that damage the fabric of society.

“The Government now is making effort to take measure crack down on drug use and trafficking, but there are still negatives points, such as the flow of drugs to schools that causes some boys to use drugs sold by their friends,” said Chea Vannath. “Autho- rities must cooperate with their parents, urging them to give advice not to use drugs any more.”

Chan Soveth, senior investigator of rights group Adhoc, also urged the authorities and the courts to make more convictions. “The authority mostly arrests drug users, while the main drug traffickers are not arrested at all,” he claimed.