Siem Reap Province

A SIEM Reap provincial court prosecutor said Thursday that he plans to pursue a case against a traffic officer accused of assaulting a motorbike driver, causing him to bleed profusely from the side of his head.

“I ordered the police to send that case to court, but I have not yet received it,” Ty Soveinthal said. “I do not know whether the victim has made a compromise with the police or not, but according to law, police have to send the case to court.”

Sok Vothy, a 25-year-old inspector for the Sky Security Service, on Tuesday said that Ouk Sating, a traffic police officer, hit him in the head with a communication radio after he failed to stop his motorbike when ordered to do so.

Thang Sakun, director of the provincial land traffic police office, said Thursday that the case was being handled by the provincial police, but that he would be happy to defend Ouk Sating in court if Sok Vothy filed a complaint.

“The victim has a right to sue my traffic police if he thinks the case is unfair,” he said. “I think the driver did not have the will to obey the law because our police stood about 10 metres before him when he sped up his motorbike. It is a doubtful case.”

Sok Vothy said Thursday that he did plan to file a complaint.

“I will sue the traffic police after they failed to pay me enough for medical treatment and shame compensation,” he said.

“I demand US$120 for medical treatment, and $1,500 for mental illness compensation,” he said, adding that traffic police had agreed to pay only $200.

Sok Vothy acknowledged shortly after the incident that he had been driving a motorbike with no number plate or mirrors, and that he had not been wearing a helmet when he was pulled over.