A member of the Cambodian military was arrested on Tuesday night after allegedly drunkenly shooting at a police officer in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district, police said yesterday.

According to Por Sen Chey deputy police chief Touch Phorn, the officer who was shot at, police were operating a checkpoint near the Khuon pagoda along Russian Boulevard at about 11pm when a visibly drunk man with a pistol on his waist was observed near the scene.

The man was identified as Soam Sophat, 40, a Royal Cambodian Armed Forces officer who hails from Por Sen Chey’s Trear village and heads Brigade 70’s Chemistry Department.

“At the time, I ordered my officials to check his pistol, but he did not agree [to a search] because his pistol wasn’t [registered] with his unit,” said Phorn. “He then took two steps back toward his motorbike, took out his pistol and shot at me.”

The military official managed just a single shot before being overwhelmed by onrushing police.

“Fortunately, my officers rushed and grabbed him and the bullet missed me,” Phorn added. “We then arrested him.”

Por Sen Chey district police chief Khem Saran confirmed yesterday that the suspect was in detention.

“The [soldier] has been arrested and charged with illegally using a weapon and shooting at authorities,” he said.