ROADSIDE MUGGER ROBS CIVIL SERVANT

A mugger was caught by Sen Sok district police after he used his helmet to smack a civil servant in the head when he was urinating along National Road 2 in Sen Sok district. Police identified the perpetrator as Sreong Ly Heang, a 24-year-old construction worker, living in the district's Toeuk Thla commune. Seriously injured Seng Sokthy, 58, residing in Chamkarmon district, said he was robbed of US$480 and several important documents.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

MERCHANTS NABBED FOR FISH SMUGGLING

A group of five dishonest merchants all residing in Prey Veng province were arrested by Svay Rieng provincial police on July 18 for illegally transporting reptiles and fish from the provincial Fisheries Department. Police confiscated a pickup truck carrying 79 kilograms of snakes, 54 kilograms of eels and 5 kilograms of fish. Police officials claimed that the perpetrators - of whom one is Vietnamese, Lu Thy, 32 - used the name of a high-ranking government official to threaten police.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

MONKS ARRESTED FOR UNHOLY ACTS

Three monks from Kra Soum Por Thiram pagoda and a student were nabbed by Siem Reap provincial police for escorting a 22-year-old woman to drink gin in a beer garden on Tuesday. Police identified the monks as Tep Sophoan, 40, Ghean Savuth, 27, and Ghov Sok, 19, who is the boyfriend of Kin Bun Phin, residing in Svay Dangkum commune. Ghov Sok and his girlfriend confessed to police that they used to exchange kisses in the pagoda and in public places after drinking wine and returning from a karaoke parlor.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

EDITOR ROBs MOTO, PAWNS IT FOR ICE

An editor-in-chief of unknown newspaper Sangkum Cheat was arrested by Tuol Kok district police Tuesday for plotting a murder and robbing a doctor of a black Honda Wave and Nokia cell phone on April 17. The suspect was identified as Tum Chouk Veasna, 43, living in the district's Phsar Depo II commune. After the arrest, the perpetrator confessed that he had exchanged the motorbike for three packages of methamphetamine, US$40 and a cell phone.

KOH SANTEPHEAP

MONK COMMITS SUICIDE IN B'BANG

Reon Yein, 18, a young monk at Battambang's Sla Ket pagoda, committed suicide by hanging himself Wednesday. Police and other monks at the pagoda in Battambang's Sla Ket village, claimed the suicide likely stemmed from personal hopelessness or family problems, as the monk was a poor student.

KOH SANTEPHEAP