The director of a Poipet town high school was accidentally arrested on Saturday by military police who mistook him for an alleged drug trafficker.

Chea Pises, headmaster of Tuol Prasat High School, was riding his motorbike home from school, when Poipet military police began chasing him in their car, which they used to bump Pises until he stopped, causing minor injuries, a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Police then surrounded him, pointed their guns at his head and handcuffed him. About 20 minutes later, however, another military policeman brought the correct suspect to the scene, and Pises was let go.

Pises yesterday confirmed the account. “I consider it bad luck, because police received information that the targeted drug dealer rode a red motorcycle, like mine,” Pises said. “That’s why they were confused.”

As a gesture of apology, Poipet provincial Military Police commander O Borin and town Military Police commander Chea Da, along with other public officials held a public ceremony at Poipet Town Hall on Sunday acknowledging the mistake.