Wife denies travel cash, is beaten unconscious

A 49-year-old woman was critically injured after her husband attacked her in Banteay Meanchey’s Poipet town on Friday. The woman’s 52-year-old husband attacked her with a torch and punched her several times until she was unconscious when she refused to give him $50 to travel to Phnom Penh, the woman said from the provincial hospital. She asked police to take legal action against her husband, who was still at large. Kampuchea Thmey

Gambler pawns pal’s moto, blows proceeds

A 28-year-old man was arrested on Friday after allegedly stealing his friend’s motorbike in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district. The friend, 22, said the man pawned the bike for $300 two weeks ago after borrowing it, spending all of the money on gambling and later fleeing. The friend later found him and alerted police. The man confessed to the theft and said he was a gambling addict. He will appear in court. Kampuchea Thmey

Man steals tuk-tuk at knifepoint, gets caught

A tuk-tuk driver was robbed at knifepoint in Kampong Speu’s Kong Pisei district last Monday. Police said a 33-year-old man hitchhiked with the driver from Phnom Penh and later threatened him with a knife in a secluded spot, escaping with the vehicle. The driver was uninjured and reported the crime to police, who arrested the suspect on Saturday. The suspect confessed to the allegation and the tuk-tuk was returned to its owner. Kampuchea Thmey

Drinking buddies turn on chum after quarrel

A 54-year-old construction worker is dead after being bashed in the head with wooden sticks in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district on Thursday night. Police said the victim had been drinking alcohol at a local restaurant at about 10pm with a group of men when an argument broke out. Walking home alone, the victim was blocked off by the other men and was beaten in the head, sustaining massive head injuries and later dying, police said. Police are uncertain of the motive for the attack and are still searching for the suspects. Koh Santepheap

Market guards, tuk-tuk drivers nab thief

Two thieves were caught snatching a handbag from a female vendor in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district last Friday, police allege. Police said the two male suspects, aged 16 and 25, pretended to be customers of the vendor before grabbing the bag, but the woman shouted for help and market security guards and motor taxi drivers caught the men and handed them over to police. Police have sent the pair to court. Rasmey Kampuchea

Translated by Phak Seangly