FEBRUARY 1: Sieng Sarith, 40, a furniture shop owner from Phnom Penh, was

killed and his body dumped on Route 4 in Kampong Seila village, Koh Kong province.

His girlfriend, Khau Sokly, told police he was murdered by Um Piseth and Leng Bunsry

while returning from Sihanoukville in a car. The two men were arrested, as was Sokly

for not reporting the murder.

FEBRUARY 1: Sok Chanpanha, 9, and his 7-year-old brother, died during a

fire while asleep at 10:30 pm in Trapaing Raing village, Russei Keo district, on

the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Luy Sreymom, 41, mother of the children, told police

that the fire started after a kerosene lamp fell on a bed. She had locked the two

boys in the house while she went to see dancing.

FEBRUARY 1: Sao Savon, 31, an observer for the commune council elections,

was shot dead when returning from a neighbor's festival at midnight in Ton Lieng

village, Svay Rieng province. Police said Savon was first stabbed then shot with

an AK-47 by two men who fled. Police said they suspected the motive was robbery as

his motorbike had been stolen.

FEBRUARY 2: Ros Meng, 35, a policeman with the Ministry of Interior, was

murdered and his body dumped on the footpath of Route 3 in Ta Phauk village, Kampong

Speu province. Police said Meng, who worked as a taxi-driver in his spare time, was

strangled by four people who stole his car. They said those involved in the killing

were Chhuon Chanthira, Kim San, Pich Narouth and Long Phan.

FEBRUARY 2: Ros Ym, 52, was shot dead and his 13-year-old daughter severely

wounded in a robbery at 7:10 pm in Banteay Chas village, Barai district, Kampong

Thom. Police said Ym was shot four times with an AK-47 by five gunmen. They escaped

empty-handed after one of them was stabbed while trying to enter the house.

FEBRUARY 3: Meat Rin, 41, was knifed and seriously injured in a family

quarrel at noon in Trapaing Chnaing village, Kampong Cham province. Police said Rin,

who was drunk, was knifed in the back and stabbed with a spear by Sak Chen, 52, his

father-in-law, and Sak Thin, his brother-in-law, 22. Chen was angry that Rin had

criticized the behavior of Chen's daughter. The men were arrested.

FEBRUARY 3: An unidentified man was axed to death during a robbery at 4

am in Ba Boang village, Piem Ror district, Prey Veng. A villager told police that

the victim was chopped several times on the back of his head and had his throat cut

while driving two women who then stole his motorbike.

FEBRUARY 3: Hor Sarak, 24, was sent to Calmette Hospital for treatment

after he was beaten and severely injured during a robbery at 6 am in Trapaing Raing

village, Russei Keo district, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Police said Sarak was

not expected to live as he had sustained massive head injuries. The robber escaped

with his brand new motorbike.

FEBRUARY 3: A 14-year-old girl, Chet Touch, was found hanged in her kitchen

at 8:40 pm in Doeum Mien village, Takhmau district, Kandal. Police said she hanged

herself, although they did not know the reason.

FEBRUARY 4: The publisher of Prachea Mate Khmer newspaper, Daut Sadet,

was arrested at 10:30 am after he was accused of stealing money at the Ministry of

Commerce. Nget Khloeng, deputy chief of administration at the ministry, told police

Sadet stole $400 from his desk while he was waiting for a $20 fee for advertising.

FEBRUARY 4: Thal Tharath, 30, was shot dead with a K-59 handgun as she

was on a moto-taxi at 7:30 pm in Psah Depot 3 precinct, Phnom Penh. Police said two

unknown men wearing bodyguard uniforms shot Tharath once in the head then escaped

on a motorbike. Revenge was the suspected motivation as she had started a relationship

with a businessman the previous month.

FEBRUARY 4: Kieng Thary, 27, was sent to the municipal hospital after a

fellow garment worker tried to poison her at a guest-house in Trapaing Thloeng village,

Dangkor district, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Police said Thary was given poison

after a dispute over the husband of a neighbor.

FEBRUARY 5: Sary Chap, 25, a driver for a real estate company in Phnom

Penh, was murdered and his body dumped in a rice field in Sam Rong village, Russei

Keo. Police said Chap was shot once in the head by a Chinese man who had paid $120

to rent his Mercedes-Benz for the day. They are searching for the killer, who escaped

to Phnom Penh with the car.

FEBRUARY 5: Nhiek Savoeun, 27, and his girlfriend, Chhen Det, were arrested

for robbery while staying at a guest-house in Chrouy Changvar precinct, Phnom Penh.

Police said Savoeun led a gang of seven thieves, who had committed 18 crimes in the

capital. They confiscated two K-54 handguns, and a K-59 handgun.

FEBRUARY 5: A 52-year-old woman, Long Hieng, died instantly during a traffic

accident at 6:10 am on National Road 6 in Trapaing Veng village, Stung Sen district,

Kampong Thom. Police said Hieng was hit by a truck and her body dragged for ten meters

while she was transporting food on her bicycle for her pig. The driver left the truck

and ran away.

FEBRUARY 5: A suspected kidnapper was shot dead and three others were wounded

but escaped while exchanging fire to evade arrest at 3 pm in Trapiang Boeng village,

Kampong Thom province. Police said Sia Soeung, 31, one of eight kidnappers, was shot

dead and a policeman, Ym Seng, was wounded in the leg.

FEBRUARY 6: A lieutenant in the army, Chea Sok, 29, was sent to Calmette

Hospital after attempting suicide at 4 pm in Psah Doeum, Thkau precinct, Phnom Penh.

Police said Sok shot himself in the chest with a K-59 handgun in despair at an illness

he was battling.

FEBRUARY 6: Nhim Sokha, 22, was shot dead during an attempted robbery while

riding his motorbike at midnight in Trapaing Neakta village, Kampong Cham province.

Police said Sokha was shot in the neck with an AK-47 by four robbers. They escaped

empty-handed after the authorities arrived.

FEBRUARY 7: Two suspected pickpockets, Ang Sokaun, 22, and Dim Sophannara,

16, were arrested at Unalom pagoda at 1:30 pm in Phnom Penh. Police said they were

arrested after a German woman, Katrin Verman, 35, filed a complaint saying that men

had stolen $200, her credit card, passport, telephone and camera.

FEBRUARY 8: Sien Saret, 17, died in Preah Kossamak Hospital after being

beaten up during a quarrel at 3 pm at Wat Phnom Secondary School in Phnom Penh. Police

said the victim was attacked by the head of class, Sai Chinda, 18, who was later

arrested. Chinda was angry after Saret caused problems when he was listed as absent

on the attendance roster.

FEBRUARY 8: Khat Sophoan, 25, a director at a conflict resolution organization,

was arrested for cheating more than $20,000 from villagers in Muk Kampoul district,

Kandal province. Police said he was arrested after 250 people complained that Sophoan

had promised to find jobs for the people in exchange for a fee of between $80 and

$120 each, but had done nothing.