Eleven soldiers in Stung Treng province’s Sesan district were suspended yesterday from their posts at a military weapons warehouse after three guns went missing on their watch, a district police officer said.

Sesan district police officer Orn Morn said two AK-47 rifles and a CKC machine gun had disappeared on Tuesday night while the soldiers were on duty.

The provincial military commander had held them responsible and ordered their suspension, he said.

“They [soldiers] were ordered by the provincial military commander to find and return the guns to the warehouse within three days,” Orn Morn said.

“If they cannot find them within a three-day period, they will be subject to military discipline from their commander.”

According to police investigations, the guns had not been stolen by thieves, but by one of the suspended soldiers, who were stationed there 24 hours a day.

Brigadier-General Say Nhorn, the Stung Treng provincial military commander, could not be reached for comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]