Police in Kampong Speu province’s Oral district are searching for three men who fatally shot a jewellery seller in Chum Norb village on Friday, saying they believe the men to be armed robbers, though they took nothing of value.

Ty Choeun, 40, who used to sell jewellery at Kantout Market, was shot in the stomach by the trio, who were armed with an AK-47 and a K-59 pistol, said But Bunthoeun, Oral district police chief.

Bunthoeun said Choeun was sitting in front of his home in Sangke Satoap commune making small talk with his family when the three men pulled up on motorbikes, shot him once from behind with the AK-47 and left immediately.

According to statements from the victim’s family, he continued, the men were wearing masks and fled without taking anything or demanding to know where the family kept their money and valuables.

Nonetheless, Bunthoeun added, “authorities are regarding this case as a robbery, and they are searching for those armed robbers to arrest and punish them in the eyes of law”.

But as of yesterday, he said, police did not have any leads as to the identities of the three suspects.