Suspect remains at large in KCham grenade attack

via CAAI News Media

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 15:02 Chrann Chamroeun

A WOMAN who was injured in a grenade attack that killed her husband over the weekend in Kampong Cham province had her eye removed by doctors on Monday, as police continued to look for a suspect whom they declined to name.

The couple’s two daughters, ages 14 and 5, suffered slight injuries to their hands and were also receiving medical treatment Monday, said Suon Ros, the deputy district police chief of Prey Chhor district, where the attack occurred.

The incident unfolded on Saturday evening as 38-year-old Yun Siphan and his wife, 35-year-old Math Sreymin, were riding to their home with their two daughters on a motorbike.

As they approached the house, Yun Siphan stopped to remove a palm leaf that was lying in the road, at which point the perpetrator apparently threw a grenade at the motorbike, injuring Math Sreymin and the two girls.

When Yun Siphan rushed to help them, the assailant attacked him, chopping him in the neck and chest with a knife and killing him instantly.

Police said they believed the attack was premeditated and stemmed from a personal dispute between the victim and the suspect.

Suon Ros said police were still looking for the suspect as of Monday afternoon, and that they believed he had fled to another province.

“We are now burning our hands and legs to hunt for the suspect who is now on the run to another province. We have already identified him and we know where he is, but we cannot tell you the name or the place,” he said.

He added: “It was a very brutal act, and we feel much sympathy for the victim’s wife and two daughters.”

Meanwhile, the rights group Adhoc plans to launch its own investigation into the killing, said provincial coordinator Neang Sovath.

“Although the killing does not appear to be politically motivated, it was against the law, and that’s why we will launch a separate investigation to urge police to hunt for a suspect for the prosecution,” he said.

He went on to say that he had been informed by local activists that the killer was the victim’s brother-in-law, and that the attack had been carried out in response to an argument that erupted between them “a few days before”, though he added that he did not know the exact nature of the dispute.

“It was very brutal. The perpetrator should not have injured other innocent people like his wife and daughters because of the dispute,” Neang Sovath added.