•Bride escapes to lover on wedding night

A runaway bride and her lover were found in a guesthouse by police after her husband reported her missing on her wedding night. The woman, 23, was secretly in love with another man, 30, and had contacted him for one last night of romance. She confessed that she had married her husband only because of family pressure.  The husband, 24, said he would let her go as long as she paid him back the US$3,000 dowry. Her lover said he would help her pay back the dowry and marry her afterwards.

KOH SANTEPHEAP

•Shoot-up smartphone robbery injures man

A 40-year-old man was shot in a smartphone robbery on Sunday in Phnom Penh’s Chamkar Morn district. The man was at a restaurant with friends and had placed three smartphones on the table.  Two men on a motorbike stopped in front of the restaurant, and one of them walked inside and threatened the victim with a gun. After snatching the phones, the gunman fired at him three times, shooting the victim once in the shoulder. Police are looking for suspects.

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•Tuk-tuk friends rob woman of necklace

Two 18-year-old men were arrested after stealing a necklace from a fellow tuk-tuk passenger on Monday in Phnom Penh’s Russei Koe district.  The men asked the driver to let them off, and then proceeded to snatch a necklace off a 27-year-old woman before running away. The driver and a passer-by gave chase and were able to catch the men.  The suspects are in jail awaiting trial. 

NOKOR WAT   

•Teenage robber nabbed by older policemen

A 17-year-old man was arrested after stealing a parked motorbike on Sunday in Pailin’s Sala Krav district.  The owner, a 35-year-old man, had been having coffee in a café when he spotted the theft. Police say they caught the suspect because of his youth and inexperience. He is awaiting trial. 

NOKOR WAT

•Bloody street justice  for thirsty car thief

A 24-year-old man was arrested after stealing a van on Monday in Svay Reang’s Svay Crow district.  The van’s 27- year-old owner said he had left it unlocked with the key in the ignition while picking up a cup of coffee. The suspect, who was unemployed, was thirsty and spotted a bottle of water in the van.  When he noticed the key in the ignition, he decided to drive off with the car instead.  The owner spotted him and gave chase, calling a passer-by and police to help. The thief was caught, pulled out of the car and beaten bloody by the owner and the passer-by, before police arrived on the scene. He is in jail awaiting trial. 

KOH SANTEPHEAP