A female timber-trafficker lodged a complaint yesterday with human rights group Adhoc and the provincial court in Preah Vihear, suing provincial police chief Mao Pov for hitting her with a rifle while she was in detention.

Heng Chengheang, 34, of Preah Vihear province, is suing for $30,000 in compensation for the alleged abuse, which she says took place at the provincial police station on July 17.

“Police did not question me whatsoever, but [Pov] used violence on me,” said Chengheang. “First, he attacked my head with a mobile phone. But I ducked and was injured in my right arm. Then, he left the room and came back with a rifle, hitting me on my back and seriously injuring the left side of my body.

“I didn’t know the reason why I was tortured in such a way.”

She added that she took pictures of the injuries as evidence while she was detained at the provincial prison.

Chengheang was transporting luxury timber to sell in Phnom Penh but was arrested after her vehicle overturned on a highway.

Pov rejected the claims yesterday, telling the Post he was not even aware of the assertions being made against him.

“I did not know about this claim, and I did not hit or torture her. We just questioned her and sent her to the provincial forestry administration office,” said Pov.

Ly Lon, prosecutor for the provincial court, said that the court has received a complaint letter but has not started an investigation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Phak Seangly at [email protected]