Karaoke fan sings the blues from hospital

Two men in their early 20s were arrested on Friday in Banteay Meanchey province’s Svay Chek district after beating and critically injuring a 17-year-old. The beatdown appears to have grown out of an argument at a wedding, at which the men refused to take the teen out to karaoke. So crushed was the aspiring crooner that he took off his helmet and bashed the men with it. In response, the drunken wedding-goers thrashed him with a bamboo stick. Police arrested them; the victim was hospitalised. Nokorwat

Young man shows off knockout moto moves

A 22-year-old was badly injured on Friday night in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district after a botched attempt to look cool by popping a wheelie. Police said six men were riding two per seat on three motos, goofing off, when the wheelie gone wrong ruined the fun. The driver of the toppled bike hit his face on the concrete, knocking him unconscious. Some of his friends fled immediately. Others drove him to the hospital, where he is recovering. Police questioned those at the hospital and released them after determining that the accident was the injured man’s fault. Nokorwat

A less common variety of hit-and-run in Takeo

Military police in Battambang province’s Phnom Prek district arrested a 25-year-old man on Friday after he allegedly beat up his manager in anger over not receiving an advance on his salary. Police said that last month the man asked the chief of staff at his construction job in Takeo province to give him an early paycheck before he returned home for a visit. When his boss said no, he grabbed a wooden stick and thwacked him over the head. He then high-tailed it to Battambang, where police caught up with him and sent him to court. Rasmey Kampuchea

Early demise for serial bag snatcher’s career

A 16-year-old has been cuffed after a lifting a bag or two in sunny Sihanoukville. Police said they nabbed the artful dodger at a gas station on Saturday and claim his crimes, mostly purse snatchings, date back to October. Local residents and tourists alike were his victims. The suspect confessed, saying he acted alone, sold everything, and already spent the money. Police sent him to court. Rasmey kampuchea

Police raid drug den; suspects deny dealing

Two women and a man were arrested on Saturday in Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima district on suspicion of dealing drugs out of a local guesthouse. After an investigation, police trailed the trio to the guesthouse and raided their room, where they found three small packages of methamphetamines, three mobile phones and $15. The suspects said they were users, not dealers. Police sent them to court. Koh Santepheap

Translated by Phak Seangly