The RCAF officer arrested for beating three youths in Sen Sok district on September 21, 2024. - Photo: Cambodian National Police / Khmer Times
PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times): The Phnom Pehn Police arrested a military officer and owner of a petrol station along with three employees for beating juveniles he believed lit firecrackers at his business and fled last week.
The police report identified the four suspects as Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Lieutenant Colonel Taing Soeun, 48, owner of the Savi Mex petrol station in Sen Sok district’s Kraing Thnong commune; and three employees Saro Akara, 18; Am Sokha, 18; and Luch Bunny, 19.
The three victims were identified as Pha Mengheng, 17; Phally Rithyrasmey, 17; and Mean Satya, 17; all high school students.
Colonel Sam Vichhika, Spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, said yesterday that the suspects were arrested on Saturday.
The arrests were made after the three victims filed a complaint with the police claiming the suspects deliberately drove a vehicle into the motorbike they were on, injuring the three teenagers and then assaulting them.
Pha Mengheng, one of the three victims, claimed that the trio had travelled on a motorbike from their home in Kork Roka commune at about 11 pm to buy fried rice at a shop near the petrol station.
On the way home at about midnight, a pick up drove into their motorbike. He alleged that Soeun ordered his workers to tie up him and his two friends with ropes and started beating them accusing the trio of allegedly setting off the firecrackers.
He added that he and his friend denied the accusations and were later freed after Soeun believed their story.
However, Soeun told the trio not to inform the police, claiming it was all a misunderstanding and he was confused about who the culprits were, he said.
“I will pursue legal action against the suspects and seek 40 million Riel (about $10,000) in compensation,” Mengheng said.
“The suspects were accused of intentional acts of violence and now are temporarily detained for further questioning at the Sen Sok District Police Station,” Col Vichhika said.
“The suspects will be sent to the Municipal Court for questioning and legal action tomorrow,” he said.
However, he did not provide further details of the case. - Khmer Times
