Police station fire kills taxi driver

via CAAI

Monday, 14 February 2011 15:02 Thet Sambath

A Stung Treng provincial police office was destroyed by fire on Saturday, killing a 32-year-old taxi driver who was being detained at the office for questioning in a traffic accident.

Deputy Police Chief Phiv Vong Doeun said the fire was likely caused by an electrical mishap and destroyed the building’s contents, including weaponry and police documents.

“All weapons – AKs, CKC rifles, M16 rifles – and documents relating to Cambodian identification cards and traffic accidents were burned down and one man died by fire,” he said.

The victim, Kem Bunna, was being detained at the office over a traffic accident, said the victim’s brother Kem Sovann. A friend of the victim, Thoeun Sothea, said two foreigners were in Kem Bunna’s taxi at the time and were injured in the accident.

“The injured foreigners did not complain against Kem Bunna, but police decided to detain him,” said Thoeun Sothea.

Kem Sovann said he would file a complaint against the police over his brother’s death.

Hou Sam Ol, provincial investigating officer for Adhoc, said hundreds of bullets and ammunition were set off by the fire.

“We heard the sound of bullets exploding and a few big explosions from big ammunition,” he said.