Police officer charged with murders

Photo by: Sovan Philong
Long Sambo, 19, with shaven head and white robe as part of a Buddhist cremation rite, weeps during a funeral ceremony at Krang Phnorn Pagoda yesterday for his father and brother, who were shot dead in Sen Sok district. His sister, also with hands clasped, shares the grief.

via Khmer NZ

Thursday, 22 July 2010 15:04 Khouth Sophakchakrya

MUNICIPAL police yesterday brought preliminary premeditated murder charges against a police officer accused of killing two people and injuring three others with an AK-47 in Sen Sok district on Tuesday.

Vong Saneath, a police officer from Khmounh commune, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly opening fire on 47-year-old Long Hun and his family following an argument. Long Hun was killed at the scene, and his son, 17-year-old Long Lyheng, died on the way to Calmette Hospital. Long Hun’s wife, Uo Soy, 42, was wounded in the shooting spree, as were his nephew and brother-in-law.

District police chief Mak Hong said the accused had confessed to the crime, but that the shooting was in self-defence.

He said the family had threatened him with an axe as he and his family drove on a motorbike past the victims’ house.

“The accused said he could’ve died if he was not wearing a helmet, because [the family] threw an axe at his head,” Mak Hong said. “He claimed they knocked his wife and son to the ground. Because he was angry, he said he took out his AK-47 and opened fire on them.”

Photo by: Sovan Philong
Thun Ratanak, 27, attends a funeral ceremony yesterday at Krang Phnorn pagoda in Dangkor district. The ceremony was held for two people – Long Hun, 47, and his 17-year-old son, Long Lyheng – who were killed in a shooting on Tuesday.

Uo Soy denied that the family had threatened the police officer, and said the accused and his family had initiated an argument with her late husband.

She said they then beat her husband, and that her son-in-law, Yim Sovann, was hit in the head with a brick while trying to defend him. The accused and his family escaped, only for Vong Saneath to return later.

“About 30 minutes later, I heard a ‘bang bang’, and my son fell to the ground so I called for help,” she said. “I was shot as well, but luckily the bullet only hit me in the arm.”

She added that her nephew and son-in-law were both shot at “three times”.

Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth said that despite his claim of self-defence, Vong Saneath would be charged with premeditated murder.

“Two people died and three more were seriously injured because of his shooting,” he said. “We will send him to court [today] for punishment.”