THE mother of a mechanic who has accused a senior police official of assault has told Phnom Penh Municipal Court that in order for the criminal complaint to be dropped the accused must compensate her son by paying his medical expenses.

The complaint states that on December 13 Neang Sok Na – deputy chief of the Minor Crimes bureau – pistol-whipped Phat Dara, 25, at Heng Heng garage on Street 39.

Police have denied the allegations.

Om Heng, the garage owner, said the victim’s mother wanted to drop the complaint because it was “a waste of time”. “She has requested the court to broker a fair compensation from the accused,” he said.

Sok Sam Oeun, director of the Cambodia Defenders Project, said if compensation was paid, the complaint could be dropped.

But he added that if the victim’s injuries were serious, the perpetrator should be charged with assault and imprisoned for at least two months.