An officer working at the Ministry of Defence was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening to murder a security guard in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district following an argument, police said.

Sen Sok District police chief Mok Hong said Major Prum Soeun had been arrested in Phnom Penh Thmey commune after he reportedly brandished a gun and threatened to shoot Thoeun Sary, a security guard at the New World Building yesterday morning.

“He was in a verbal dispute with this security guard, so he took out his pistol to point it at the victim, and threatened to shoot him,” Hong said.

“And he threatened to shoot the victim in the thigh.”

According to Hong, after the altercation the victim immediately filed a complaint to Sen Sok district police, who surrounded Soeun and arrested him on Hanoi Street as he tried to escape by motorbike.

During the arrest, police confiscated a pistol along with seven bullets, and found that Soeun’s licence to carry the firearm had expired.

“He was preliminarily accused by our police with two charges: attempted murder and illegal weapon use,” Hong said.

“He is now being detained and questioned at the Sen Sok district police station.  He will be sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for charges [today].”

In January – amid a spate of similar abuses of power by those in the armed forces – Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the Ministry of Defence to improve its professionalism and slammed senior military officers for breaking the law and violating RCAF regulations.