Four members of the air force and one civilian were arrested on Monday night after allegedly threatening to murder with a meat cleaver a group of volunteer students working on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s national land-titling scheme.

Nu Tiro, deputy police chief of Kampong Chhnang’s Rolea Ba’ier district, said the suspects had swung back round to confront three students they had passed travelling in the opposite direction in Krang Leav commune.

The students had stopped because of the dust kicked up by their drunk, passing aggressors who then approached them and engaged in a glare off.

“The five were far-gone and questioned the three youths, which caused an argument and then the [accused] made a hint threatening their lives,” Tiro said.

The suspects were alluding to a meat cleaver attached to one of their motorbikes, a threat which triggered the students to call local police who immediately arrested the men and seized their knife, Tiro added.

“No one was injured at all because the voluntary youths filed the complaint in time,” he said.

Kampong Chhnang provincial police commander Choun Chern said the defendants, aged 19 to 24, had promptly been sent to court.

“This case could not be coordinated yet based on the court’s decision,” he said, adding that they were awaiting further direction from the judicial officials in Phnom Penh. They have not yet been charged.

Penh Vibol, Kampong Chhnang provincial prosecutor, said the court had not yet received the official complaint.

“The defendants have to be educated because it is a serious case, according to the provincial authorities,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Phak Seangly at [email protected]