A Vietnamese fisherman died on Wednesday morning after attempting to flee from law enforcement officials who arrested him and two suspected accomplices for illegally fishing in Kampong Chhnang province, police have said.

Kem Sithol, Koh Thkov commune police chief, said yesterday that police arrested three men – Vin Yangteng, Vin Yanghong and Ngveang Yangly – after 3am on Wednesday for allegedly illegally fishing in Cholkiri district.

The suspects reportedly escaped from custody sometime between their arrest and 7am, when local police received a report saying they were hiding under a floating house near the local Fisheries Administration office.

“They jumped into the water in order to escape from the authorities.… Vin Yangteng drowned under the house” after getting stuck in a flotation barrel, Sithol said.

The body of the deceased was returned to his family on Wednesday evening after an examination, police said.

Ou Sorphoan, chief of Kampong Brasat region Fisheries Administration, declined to comment on the case yesterday, saying only that fisheries officials were not responsible for Yangteng’s death.

Som Sear, Teuk Hout commune police chief, said that the provincial police’s serious crimes division had launched an investigation.

“The suspect, Vin Yangteng, drowned to death because he tried to escape from the fishery officials,” he said.

Police are still searching for the other two suspects.