Three victims injured in a car accident caused by former Ratanakkiri provincial police chief Yoeung Baloung, who was supposed to be in prison at the time, received US$3,500 in compensation, said a relative of two of the victims.

“My two nephews completely broke their legs, the doctors said they could be disabled for the rest of their lives and the other victim’s injuries are even worse,” said 36-year-old Sok Vuthy, adding that his nephews were now being treated at a hospital in Vietnam.

The compensation payments were made by Oeurn Odom, son-in-law of Yoeung Baloung, with Chheng Nguon, who was most severely injured, receiving $1,500, and the other two accident victims, Thang Pich, 21, and Som Keo, 19, each receiving $1,000.

Chin Penh, Ratanakkiri deputy traffic police chief, said today that the accident case had not yet been sent to the court.

“First we will settle the compensation to pay for the victims’ treatment,” he said today.

Yoeung Baloung was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006 for involvement in an illegal logging ring.

Liv Mauv, deputy director of the general department of prisons at the Ministry of Interior, said Yoeung Baloung had received permission to leave prison to attend an ethnic Kreung celebration.