MAY 22: Ham Sorm, 65, was shot dead in a robbery at 8:45 pm in Kal Meak village,

Stung Sen district, Kampong Thom. Police said three masked gunmen shot him with an

AK-47 then stole 300,000 riel. Phao Ly, 45, the victim's wife, was tortured and later

released. Police said the motive was not robbery but sorcery as Sorm had recently

been accused of witchcraft.

MAY 22: A 46-year-old man, Yous Yi, was shot dead during a revenge attack

at around 7 pm while drinking tea with his four neighbors in Kraing Chambak village,

Prey Veng province. Police said he was shot three times in the chest by an unknown

assailant who then ran away.

MAY 22: Yard Bunly, 40, a motodop driver, was sent to the provincial hospital

after being shot in a robbery at around 4 pm in Taing Krauch village, Samrong Tong

district, Kampong Speu. Police said Bunly was hit on the head with a hammer and shot

three times with a K-54 handgun as he fought two passengers who were trying to steal

his motorbike.

MAY 23: The body of a 30-year-old unidentified man was found in the river

near Chroy Changvar bridge in Phnom Penh. Police, who found a letter in his pocket,

said he committed suicide by jumping from the bridge. The letter stated that he had

AIDS and wanted to be cremated at Preah Puot pagoda if he drowned.

MAY 23: A 24-year-old woman, Keo Than, was found dead in the forest near Ta

Mol village, Chhbar Morn district, Kampong Speu. Police said she had been raped then

murdered. They suspect her motodop driver was responsible, and had robbed her first,

as her three chi gold necklace was missing. Khon Veasna, 22, was arrested on May

30 and confessed to the killing.

MAY 24: Bit Chea, 28, was knifed and severely injured in a revenge attack

while asleep in his hammock at night at his house in O'Mal village, Battambang province.

Police said Chea's throat was cut by Boeun Mao, 25, Phon Sophoin, 17, and Pau Sophanna,

16. All three were later arrested.

MAY 24: Police arrested Prim Tre, 35, after he was accused of murdering an

elderly woman two days earlier in Koh Tonse village, Banteay Meas district, Kampot

province. Police said Tre raped and strangled 82-year-old Thep Nheung before fleeing

to Prey Tapreuk village.

MAY 24: Sen Sren, 32, a motodop driver, was sent to Preah Kossamak Hospital

after being shot in a robbery at 4:30 am while riding along Street 292 in Boeung

Kak 2 precinct, Tuol Kork district, Phnom Penh. The victim told police that two gunmen

blocked his path then shot him in the stomach after they tried to take his bike key.

The men escaped empty-handed.

MAY 25: Le Hong, 22, and two accomplices escaped after committing a murder

in Stung Thmei village, Siem Reap province. Police said they killed Hong's neighbor,

Nou Routtanak, a motodop driver. Hong was angry after he saw Routtanak staying with

his masseuse girlfriend, Kong Kea. He was stabbed several times and died later at

home.

MAY 26: Hok Ra, 31, an ice-cream vendor, was knifed and severely injured in

an argument in Prey Roka village, Ang Snoul district, Kandal. Police said Ra was

stabbed in the shoulder by another ice-cream vendor, Khun Ieng, 34, who was immediately

arrested. Ieng told police that Ra had forbidden him from setting up his stall nearby

to compete with him.

MAY 26: Yim Bunthy, 43, was robbed of her jewelry at 7:30 am in Tonle Bassac

commune, Phnom Penh. She told police that an unidentified man had entered her house

and threatened to kill her with a sickle if she called for help. He then tied her

arms behind her back and stole a two chi platinum necklace, a five chi bracelet,

her handphone and 120,000 riel in cash.

MAY 26: Pe Sao, 34, was knifed to death while watching television at 9 pm

at her house in Ta Yeung village, Thmar Pouk district, Battambang. Police said the

woman, the second wife of Kheng Hurn, 41, was stabbed in the chest and the stomach

and axed once in the face. Police suspect revenge was the motive as she had argued

with her husband's family last year.

MAY 27: Malis Meas, 33, was arrested after a murder was committed in Sambo

village, Batheay district, Kampong Cham. Police said the man and two accomplices

killed Sim Nin, 35, a motorbike vendor from Trapaing Krasaing village, Dangkor district,

Phnom Penh. Police said they persuaded Nin to buy a motorbike in Kampong Cham, then

killed him and stole $300.

MAY 27: Nguyen Thilong, 18, a Vietnamese national, was sent to Preah Kossamak

Hospital after she was attacked at 7:30 am in Boeung Salang commune, Phnom Penh.

Police said her face was slashed by Thorng Phalla, 22, and her aunt, Him Vouch, 32,

who were arrested at the scene. Phalla accused Thilong of sleeping with her husband.

MAY 28: Pung Routha, 26, escaped after a murder was committed in Tonle Bassac

commune, Chamkar Morn district, Phnom Penh. Police said Routha killed his friend,

Thoun Voeun, 39, during an alcohol-fueled argument. Voeun, a motodop driver, was

stabbed in the chest and died later at home after he refused to keep drinking.

MAY 28: Ung Soeung, 41, was sent to Preah Kossamak Hospital for treatment

after being axed during a night-time robbery at 10 pm in Chi Piay village, Kampong

Trabek district, Prey Veng. His wife, Soam Phan, told police that seven gunmen entered

the house and chopped her husband four times in the head before stealing one damleung

of gold and 200,000 riel.

MAY 29: Phal, 32, a blacksmith, was found hanged at 5:30 am at his relative's

house in Tonle Bassac commune, Phnom Penh. House-owner Sieng Sokhim, 25, told police

he committed suicide after saying he was worried about owing $520 to Ngoun Thart.

MAY 30: Yan Yol, 51, a money-changer, was robbed at noon in front of his house

in Boeung Keng Kang 1 commune, Chamkar Morn district, Phnom Penh. Yol told police

that two masked gunmen struck him on the head with the butt of a handgun, before

escaping by motorbike with 20 damleung of gold, $500 and 3 million riel.

MAY 31: Koy Savuth, 38, was sent to Calmette Hospital for treatment after

being axed during a night-time robbery in Boeung Kak 1 precinct, Tuol Kork district,

Phnom Penh. Savuth told police that an unidentified man befriended him while drinking

beer, then chopped him in the neck and stole his motorbike after he gave him a lift

home.

JUNE 1: A 20-year-old garment worker, Phan Kollarb, was found floating in

a lake in Damnak Thom village, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh. Police said she had

been murdered elsewhere and her body dumped there. They suspect revenge was the motive

as her one chi platinum necklace was not stolen.

- Translated from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmei Kampuchea by Aun

Pheap