The families of three fishermen who died after their boat collided with a much larger Thai towboat off Preah Sihanouk last Thursday filed a complaint yesterday to Koh Kong Provincial Court, seeking compensation from the towboat’s owner.

Two of the fishing boat’s five crew members were rescued, but Seng San, 28, Ra Bok, 17, and Dok Kdem, 19, were found dead days later.

The fishing boat’s owner, Toch Sinern, said yesterday that he filed a complaint on behalf of the victims’ families to demand unspecified compensation from the tugboat’s Thai owner, who has not been identified.

“On behalf of the victims’ families, we could not determine the amount of compensation. It will depend on the court’s legal decision. Three of my fishermen died in this incident. They must get some compensation.”

Preah Sihanouk police chief Tak Vantha said that two Thai nationals piloting the towboat, who initially escaped, have been detained for questioning “until a solution is found”.