Family members of three victims injured when they were struck by a car carrying former Ratanakkiri police chief Yeoung Baloung were given more money for medical treatment, one of the victim’s relatives said yesterday.

Sok Vuthy, an uncle of one of the victims, said the families had received US$2,500 from Yeoung Baloung’s son last week, the third such payment since the incident.

“We demanded $13,000 from Yeoung Baloung for the treatment of the three victims who were injured in January,” Sok Vuthy said, adding that the families had received all compensation that they had demanded.

Yeoung Baloung, the disgraced former Ratanakkiri police chief, was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in 2006 for his involvement in an illegal logging scheme.

He was released temporarily from prison on January 15 to attend an ethnic celebration, during which the car he was driving struck a motorbike, leaving the three victims severely injured.

The Sam Rainsy Party submitted a letter of inquiry on February 3 to the National Assembly seeking clarification of its investigation into the matter.

The Ministry of Interior had initially ruled that Yeoung Baloung’s release was illegal, but later said it had been permissible because his wife had sought permission from the prison.