Aug 9: Chen Phoen, 48, a moto-taxi driver was severely wounded by six bandits

in military uniforms carrying long guns at 12 pm in Svay commune Kampong Chhnang

province. His son in-law, who lives 10 meters away from the victim's house, said

that he shot a few bullets when the bandit attempted to take his father in-law's

motorcycle key. The offenders escaped without taking the motorcycle.

 

Aug 10: Four girls were rescued by the police from a brothel in Toul Kok.

Their relatives had promised them salaries of 120,000 riels per month to work as

cooks in Phnom Penh. A sister of one of the victims informed police of their whereabouts.

The victims said that they were forced to have sex with at least five customers a

day and received no payment except for 500 riels for breakfast.

Aug 11: Chea Soun, 47, a school-examination monitor, was shot and injured

by police as he allegedly climbed the school building and attempted to throw answer

sheets to students. But the victim's family said that the shooter is a drunkard policeman

angry for being denied a security position for the examinations. The incident took

place at Pheam Rang school Prey Veng province.

Aug 12: Chun Sophy, 27, a policeman of the Espionage Department, was killed

by an unidentified man who shot him when he got out of his car in front of the Mastersaki

Restaurant on St 169. Witnesses said that as the victim and his friend left the car

a motorcyclist opened fire and sped off. The motive is still being investigated.

Aug 13: Two cow stealers - Houn Khun, 26 and Ren Kroeuth, 18 - were arrested

by police after they stole two cows in Sisophon. They admitted that one cow sells

for 2,100 baht and that they have stolen four cows, six bicycles and some pigs, ducks,

and chickens.

Aug 16: Shy Minh En, a Taiwanese businessman, was injured by confused military

and civilian police as he attempted to escape from gun robbers who had shot his car.

He was reportedly very afraid and drove to a checkpoint for help near the Olympic

Stadium, but officers mistook him for a robber and shot at him. He then fled to another

checkpoint for help, but when the military and civilian police caught up with him

they stole $3,000 and his hand phone.

Aug 18: Pov, family name unknown, died in the hospital after a human rights

group brought him out of jail to Chay Chum Nas hospital for treatment. Pov, along

with an accomplice, is alleged to have hit and robbed a moto-taxi owner of his motorcycle.

His partner escaped with the bike. Pov was detained and beaten by a mob of people

and then sent to the police. The police sent Pov to jail because the court was closed

on Saturday. Human rights workers blame the police for his death, but police blame

the mob, complaining that the human rights workers only care about robbers and not

victims. The incident took place in Kandal province.

Aug 19: So Rady, a bodyguard, was killed and Touch Sokhon, a policeman

and Leap Thoeuk were wounded after an argument. Thoeuk was just passing by. The source

said Rady come to a brothel, but all the prostitutes avoided from him because he

never paid after having sex. He left angrily and Sokhom, who lives next door, told

him not to come back unless he paid money. Rady then returned with two friends and

a gunfight ensued. A witness said that Rady was shot by one of his friends by mistake.

The incident took place at 9:30 pm in Sangkat Tonle Bassac. Rady's friends escaped.

Aug 20: Tep Savong, 32, teacher, was injured by Phan Monour, a market-security

guard. The source said that Savong often utters dirty speech to Monour's wife, but

on Aug 19 Monour's wife also was hit and kicked in her bottom. Later that morning,

Monour came to Savong's store and asked him why he hit and kicked his wife. Savong

not only did not listen and apologize, but also uttered dirty speech. Monour shot

one bullet to the ground, but the bullet ricocheted and hit Savong's chest. Monour

waited for police to arrest him. The incident took place in Phar Chas market.

Aug 20: Sou Sarith, 40, was abducted by four gunmen wearing military uniforms

and civilian clothes at 5:30 pm near Stung Meanchey pagoda. The kidnappers carried

long guns and had a military license plate.

Aug 22: Simon Peter Palazzo, of Italian and English nationality, was arrested

at the Bokor Caltex supermarket for stealing perfume. The staff of the market said

that he had shoplifted there twice before, but this time they watched him carefully

and caught him. He had allegedly selected a package of balloons and a bottle of perfume,

went to a quiet place and hid the bottle under his armpit. He then selected another

bottle and took it and the balloons to the counter. He told the cashier that the

perfume was no good and only paid 1,000 riels for the balloons. He was then searched

and apprehended.

- Summarized from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmey Kampuchea by Bou

Saroeun