Police are seeking the arrest of tycoon Nhem Kosal after he allegedly severely injured a man and his family in a vehicular assault carried out in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok districton Sunday, police said yesterday.

Sen Sok district police chief, Major Mok Hong, said Kosal, upset over a still-outstanding debt of some $2,000, allegedly ran into friend and debtor Ny Sath, 49 – as well as Sath’s wife, Tep Liza, 41, and their daughter – after a verbal altercation in front of their Phnom Penh Thmey commune home at around 11:30pm Sunday.

“He got very angry with the victim, who is his friend, and who had borrowed his money for a long time but did not return it to him. Besides this, they also had been arguing with him,” Hong said. “So he drove his car into them while they stood in front of their house, and caused them injuries. He also drove his car into the victims’ car, and caused it to be seriously damaged.”

Sath sustained two broken legs in the incident, Hong said, and his wife and daughter each suffered a broken arm.

“After hitting the victims and their car, he managed to escape successfully from the scene,” he added.

A witness, who asked not to be named, told the Post that at about 11pm on Sunday night, Kosal parked his Range Rover in front of the victim’s house, and honked his horn, asking the victims to come out and meet him. However, when the victims came out, an argument erupted, ending with Kosal driving off.

“About 30 minutes later, Okhna Nhem Kosal returned again, and parked in front of the door of the victims’ house, and he honked his horn at the victim’s house,” the witness said. “But when the victims opened the door and came outside, he immediately drove his car into them, and into their car. And after hitting them, he drove his car away, escaping from the place.”

Kosal and his family could not be reached for comment regarding the accusations.