A 32-year-old Pailin farmer was charged yesterday for his involvement in a grenade explosion that critically injured a young man.

Roeuth Phorn and his wife were clearing weeds from their Sala Krao commune farm on Thursday when Phorn discovered an old hand grenade, according to Lieutenant Colonel Chhorm Vanthy, the deputy provincial police chief.

According to police, on Friday evening, when Phorn was drinking at his house with two friends, he brought out the grenade. Bun Muth, 49, pulled the pin out of the device, setting off the explosion. Muth injured his hand and 20-year-old Chea Heng sustained critical injuries to his right leg, stomach and both arms.

Muth escaped and Heng had to be taken to Battambang for treatment, police said.

“[Phorn] was charged at the provincial court with causing injury and has now been sent to provincial prison,” said Colonel Vanthy. Phorn could not be reached for comment yesterday.