A popular Cambodian comedian was arrested by police in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district on Saturday, after firing his gun into the air during an argument.

Thou Chamrong, 52, also known as San Mao, was arrested after he shot into the air five times during a dispute, National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito said yesterday.

“San Mao is being detained at Phnom Penh municipal military police station, while we wait to solve [the issue] with the other party,” Kheng Tito said.

A Meanchey district military police officer, who declined to be named, said yesterday that a group of young men argued with the comedian in the Bos Angkanch village of Prek Eng commune on Saturday night.

“It was caused by the young men in the village who argued with each other. I have sent the case to the municipal military police office already so it is out of my hands,” the officer said.

Thou Chamrong said yesterday that he and his children went to visit his relatives in Prek Eng commune, when an argument broke out between his family and the young men.

“They argued with my children and planned to stab my children, so then I went to stop them, but they did not listen to me,” he said.

He added that the other parties involved also said they would shoot his family so he retrieved his pistol from his car and fired into the air five times in order to break up the altercation.