TRUCK DRIVER DENIES ‘RAPE'

Meas Sophorn, 29, a truck driver, was sent to Pursat provincial court on Thursday, charged with raping a girl twice. Police said that they arrested the man after they received a complaint from the mother of a 16-year-old girl who said that he had raped her daughter two times in the back of a truck last Monday night. Meas Sophorn told police that he did have sex with the girl twice, but denied that he had raped her as the sex was consensual.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

GOLD SELLER BEAT TO DEATH BY ROBBERS

Three robbers beat to death a gold seller at his home in Kam Rieng district, Battambang province, on Wednesday. Police said the robbers pointed an AK-47 riffle at Him Kimheung's wife and asked for gold. At the same time Him Kimheung was attempting to fight off the robbers, but they beat him with the gun until he died. Police said the robbers took a mobile phone and a car remote control before firing into the air and threatening neighbours. They then escaped through a cassava farm.

KOH SANTEPHEAP  

DISPUTE LEADS TO WIFE'S DEATH

Chan Bunheng of Sambor district, Kratie province, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly beating his wife to death on May 29. Police said Chan Bunheng was drinking wine with a neighbour when his wife, Khieu Pov, 41, asked him to stop. When he continued, his wife started cursing him. Chan Bunheng then struck his wife on the chest with his knee, and also cracked her head on the ground, police said. She died in hospital.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

MEN ARRESTED FOR SELLING FAKE GOLD

Two men were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly selling fake gold. Police at Banteay Meanchey province's Thmar Puok district said Hay Kimhong, 25, and Yem Veasna, 30, from Prey Veng province, were arrested after they received a complaint from Taing Kea, 50. She said that she was cheated into buying from the men a necklace made of fake gold that cost 1,096,000 riels (US$274).

KOH SANTEPHEAP

HOUSES COLLAPSE IN TAKEO STORM

Three people were hurt and 46 houses collapsed during a rainstorm in Takeo province on Wednesday. Local authorities said that heavy rain and storms caused the villagers' houses to collapse. There were no fatalities.

KAMPUCHEA THMEY