DECEMBER 21: Pon Saroeun, 44, a motodop driver, was axed to death in a

robbery at 5:30 am in Pong Piay village, Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh. A witness

told police that one of a group of three robbers chopped him twice in the head before

escaping with his motorbike.

DECEMBER 21: Meak Monibot, 10, was killed and his body dumped on Route 4 in

Chralong Khang T'bong village, Ang Snuol district, Kandal. Police said he was kidnapped

and strangled after his mother refused to pay $50,000 to Iam Saron, 42, a member

of the airforce and a district councilor from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. Saron

was arrested.

DECEMBER 22: Police arrested Ym Tha, 19, after he was accused of rape and

attempted murder in Borei Kammakar village, Ang Snuol district, Kandal. A 14-year-old

girl told police that he had knocked her to the ground then raped her in a night-time

attack. He then tried to strangle her and dumped her in a canal.

DECEMBER 22: Police sent Sim Bunheng, 45, to Calmette Hospital after he lost

consciousness at 7:30 pm in Chrouy Changvar precinct, Phnom Penh. Police said he

was drugged with sleeping pills while drinking five cans of beer given by two girlfriends,

Mak Lin, 22, and Srah, 30. They then stole his motorbike, $30 and his handphone.

Lin was later arrested, but Srah escaped.

 

DECEMBER 22: Police arrested Sok Son, 36, on suspicion of a murder committed

at 9:20 am in Tuol Saing village, Angkor Borei district, Takeo. Police said he cut

the throat of his 14-year-old brother, Mey Sopheak, after Sopheak saw Son had membership

cards for both the Cambodian People's Party and Funcinpec.

DECEMBER 22: Soy Vuthy, 22, was arrested after being accused of a rape committed

the previous day in Prey Bakrong village, Baset district, Kampong Speu. A 40-year-old

widow told police that Vuthy raped her while she slept. She demanded $150 in compensation.

DECEMBER 23: Hok Liheng, 27, was knifed and seriously injured in an evening

attack in Chhong Koh village, Kampong Chhnang province. Police said he was beaten

with pipes then chopped several times by ten gangsters after he came to the aid of

his father, Hok Mei, 62, whom the gangsters were beating. They had attacked Mei after

he tried to stop them arguing with another group of people.

DECEMBER 23: A 28-year-old woman was raped at night in Prek Rokar village, Ang

Snuol district, Kandal. Police said the woman, a widow with two children from Prey

Veng province, was raped by Fong Ching Ly, 40, a Taiwanese national who owns a shoe

factory. Fong had reportedly paid $200 in compensation, but police said a complaint

had been filed with them for his arrest.

DECEMBER 23: Sok Bunna, 21, was robbed at night in Sam Nong village, Chhbar

Morn district, Kampong Speu. The victim's mother, Pol Sao, 54, told police that an

unknown man axed her daughter in the head after she screamed for help. He escaped

after stealing her two chi platinum bracelet, a gold necklace and 50,000 riel.

DECEMBER 24: Som Sarak, 24, was sent to Preah Kossamak Hospital for treatment

after being knifed in a revenge attack at 5:30 pm in Teuk La'ak 1 commune, Tuol Kork

district, Phnom Penh. A witness told police that six people attacked Sarak then stabbed

him three times before escaping on their motorbikes. The attack came after an argument

during a football game.

DECEMBER 24: Police arrested Mao Sovanna, 17, and Tau Sophat, 20, after they

were accused of stealing a motorbike at Samdech Euv Junior High School in Sihanoukville.

Police said they tried to escape to Phnom Penh on National Road 2 and were picked

up in Takeo province. Police

confiscated a K-59 handgun and handed the robbers over to the Sihanoukville authorities.

DECEMBER 25: Taing Chhun Thaing, 60, the owner of Samto Restaurant, was shot

and wounded at midnight while on a motorbike in Mittapheap commune, Phnom Penh. His

guard, Heng Sam Rech, said two gunmen shot him in the chest before escaping on their

motorbike. Thaing was sent to Calmette Hospital for emergency surgery. Police said

they had found no motive for the attack.

DECEMBER 25: Chea Sambath, 39, a construction manager, was found dead at 6

am in Tuol

Kork village, Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh. Police said he was murdered with an

ax the

previous night at the construction site, and his motorbike and handphone were stolen.

Police said they suspected a Vietnamese construction worker, Dao Yang Kak, had committed

the murder.

DECEMBER 26: Police arrested Phon Ben, 32, after he was accused of a murder

committed the previous day in Ron village, Mong Russei district, Battambang. The

man told police he had killed his neighbor in a revenge attack over a land dispute.

Tiep Kia, 31, was shot in the chest and stomach with an AK-47 while playing volleyball.

DECEMBER 26: Som Pork, 30, a motodop driver, was shot dead at 8:50 pm in an

exchange of fire during a robbery in Veal Vong commune, Phnom Penh. A witness said

he was shot in the face with an AK-47 by a policeman who opened fire on three robbers

on a motorbike. The policeman ran away, but was later identified as a man called

Rith from Psar Depot 2 police station.

DECEMBER 27: Ed Sysiha, 23, a lottery vendor, died in hospital after he was

axed at 8 am at Khlaing Leu market in Mittapheap commune, Sihanoukville. Police said

he was chopped in the temple by Ek Sat, 62, who was later arrested. Sat was angry

after Sysiha refused to pay him even though he had won the lottery. Sysiha tore up

the winning ticket numbered 615 and gave him a different one instead, which was numbered

516.

DECEMBER 28: The body of a 30-year-old unidentified man was found 150 meters

from a rubber plantation in Paung village, T'bong Khmum district, Kampong Cham. Police

said the man had been strangled then shot in the head. Although they knew of no motive,

they said he was killed elsewhere, then set on fire.

DECEMBER 29: A married couple, Leang Dara, 33, and Mey Disim, 30, who are

gold vendors, were robbed at 6:30 am at Stung Meanchey market in Phnom Penh. Dara

told police that two robbers threatened him with a K-54 handgun and said they would

kill him if he called for help. They escaped after stealing five million riel, $600

in cash, and his five chi platinum necklace.

DECEMBER 29: Tep Sambo, 39, a motorbike vendor, was sent to Calmette Hospital

for treatment after attempting suicide at 7 am in O'Russei 2 precinct, Phnom Penh.

His wife, Sau Rechna, 30, told police her husband jumped from their house after he

was cheated out of his motorbike. He suffered massive head injuries and is not expected

to survive.

- Translated from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmei Kampuchea By Aun

Pheap