POLICE are investigating an automobile accident early Tuesday morning that left a lion statue in Hun Sen Park destroyed. Eyewitnesses reported that the lion statue, which stands near a new statue of legendary monk Choun Nath, was destroyed at around 2:30am when a Toyota Camry lost control and crashed into it.

"We are conducting an investigation to find the driver who damaged the stone lion," said Thoang Piseth, military police chief of Daun Penh district.

"The Camry was sent to the municipality military police head office for further investigation at 8am [Tuesday]," he added.

According to Hear Vannak, 26, a witness to the accident, no one was injured in the crash.

Nhem Saran, municipal director of Public Works & Transport, told the Post on Tuesday that they would assess the scene for damage to public property before charges would be filed.

"If this was done intentionally, a complaint will be filed to the court. But if it was unintentional, the driver just has to pay for the damage."