The 22-year-old son of a military official was charged by Preah Vihear Provincial Court yesterday for allegedly threatening and kidnapping a 17-year-old girl with whom he had been in a relationship, police said.

According to Keo Chamroeun, provincial deputy police chief, suspect Hing Lida, 22, fired a shot into the air to stop his purported victim, who was riding a motorbike in Preah Vihear town at the time, and then took her to Siem Reap province.

“He is in jail now, and the court has charged him with illegal use of a gun and kidnapping,” Chamroeun said.

Officials at the provincial court could be reached for comment yesterday.

Chamroeun said that the pair had been found in Siem Reap province’s Sotr Nikum district.

Deputy district police chief Heng Samnang said that Lida was arrested by Preah Vihear provincial police as he and his alleged victim were strolling in a pagoda after the victim’s parents filed a complaint.

The owner of the guesthouse where the two were staying had told authorities that the pair had said they were in love, and would follow each other anywhere, he added.

Samnang said that he had been told by Preah Vihear police that the man’s family had sent him to China two months ago in an attempt to separate him from the girl, but when he came back, their relationship was unchanged, despite her parents’ disapproval.

The suspect has been charged with illegal use of a weapon once before, he added, but had been released.

Chor Mab, deputy director of Chea Sim Tbeng Meanchey High School, said that the girl “was a good student and … came to school regularly”.