Police denied full house in card-game bust

A Sihanoukville gambling gig fell apart like a house of cards on Tuesday following a police raid. According to neighbours’ reports, the gamblers were addicted to betting at cards and played almost every day. And sure enough, when police burst in, the group were at it again. Police were able to arrest three of them, but the others escaped. The trio were ordered to sign a contract promising to cease immediately – but we wouldn’t bet on them keeping their word. Rasmeyt Kampuchea

Two-left-footed quartet do two-fisted two-step

Toe trampling, as it so often does, quickly turned into a tussle at a village dance party in Kampot town on Monday. Police said at least four men had been involved in the dancefloor brawl that broke out when a few of the dancers forgot to mind where they stepped to the hearty hip-hop beat. Soon, not only feet but fists and rocks entered the fray, fearful neighbours told police, who arrested two of the men and sent one who was seriously injured to hospital. Another escaped. Koh Santepheap

Burning resentment leads to burning home

Police are unsure what fanned the flames of a longstanding grudge on Tuesday, prompting the grudge-bearer to set fire to the house of his nemesis. The suspect lit the blaze while the owner was away selling goods at a market, but a neighbour quickly put out the flames before they spread and called the home’s owner, who hurried home. Upon capture, all the firebug would tell police was that he hated the home’s owner. Kampuchea Thmey

Why buy the cow when you can go to jail for free?

Police caught a cattle rustler in the act on Monday in Kandal’s Ang Snoul district. They said they sensed something was wrong when they saw the 21-year-old man walking down the road with a cow, and detained him. The petrified pilferer panicked and attempted to escape, but unsuccessfully. After a little more prodding, he confessed that he had stolen the cow after its owner left it to graze in a field. Police sent the suspect to court. Koh Santepheap

Cops didn’t buy drug dealers’ story

Two drug distributors found their excuses were a tough sell to police after they were caught riding around a market in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district with their illicit wares on Tuesday. The two eventually confessed that they were meant to meet a customer in the market and hand over the dope. This was not their first time selling the stuff, and they have been sent to court. Kampuchea Thmey

Translated by Sen David