Gunmen kill three in Battambang

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

via CAAI

Monday, 21 March 2011 15:01Mom Kunthear

District police officials are investigating three suspects in connection with the murder of three family members who were shot and killed at their house in Serei Meanchey commune in Battambang province’s Sampov Loun district early on Saturday morning.

Sampov Loun district police chief Pich Saren said yesterday that Kong Ki, 50, Oum Chet, 40, and their daughter, Kong Chany, 17, died instantly, and a second daughter, 9, was hit by a bullet that had first struck one of her family members and sent to the district hospital with severe injuries.

“We are investigating to arrest the suspects who killed three members in a family.”

“We suspect that it is a personal case between the victims and the suspects because the suspects did not take money or any property from the victims’ house.”

Pich Saren said that the suspects brought guns to the victims’ house and, after calling Kong Ki’s name, one suspect shot him twice as he came out of the house.

Pich Saren said the same suspect shot Oum Chet once when she came looking for her husband and shot their daughter Kong Chany once before shooting a motorbike parked in the house three times.

“There were seven people in the house, but the other four hid themselves under the bed,” Pich Saren said. “So the suspects did not see them.”

He added that the survivors did not recognise the suspects’ faces because it was dark and they were hiding.

Sun Tek Battambang provincial coordinator for the local rights group Licadho, said that this was the first murder case in Battambang province this year.

“We want to urge the police and officials to investigate to arrest the suspects as soon as possible for punishment through the law,” he said.