PHNOM Penh Municipal Court yesterday tried a man on charges of attempted murder and possessing an illegal weapon, in relation to the theft of a motorbike last year for which he has already been convicted on robbery charges.

Kheng Pov, 21, was arrested in October last year in Kandal province’s Ksach Kandal district in connection with the robbery of a motorbike taxi driver in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district in September.

Police said a separate driver was wounded after the suspect allegedly shot him several times in the leg when he came to the victim’s defence. Kheng Pov was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this year.

Presiding judge Ker Sakhorn said during the hearing yesterday that the case was reopened so the suspect could face attempted murder and illegal weapon charges.

But Kheng Pov called the decision to try him twice an “injustice” and denied that he ever opened fire on the victim, claiming his accomplice, known as Chek, fired the handgun at the ground, which ricocheted and struck the victim in the leg.Chek has so far eluded police.

A verdict will be announced on November 29.