Would-be peacemaker gets brunt of attack

A good Samaritan who intervened in a scuffle outside a Pursat pagoda on Friday ended up in a worse off state than the victim he was trying to help. Rather than put a stop to the violence, the intrepid interrupter was set upon by the blade-bearing bully, who stabbed him before escaping into the streets of Pursat’s Veal Veng district. The man was sent to hospital while police arrived to arrest his 22-year-old assailant. The original victim, who might consider himself lucky to have escaped the bully’s clutches, is also sought by police. Koh Santepheap

Police arrest two of four loud robbers

Eschewing the usual stealth required for burglary, four thieves instead openly barged into a Svey Rieng house with a gun, threatening the owner and arousing the attention of local police, who were patrolling nearby. The panicked owner reported no shots, but the would-be rowdy robbers nevertheless left enough evidence for the cops to arrest two of them not long after. Police are still looking for their fumbling friends. Deum Ampil

Police catch den of drug packagers in the act

A not-so-secret drug packaging business running out of a Stung Treng guesthouse was raided on Saturday after information gathered in a previous drug bust alerted police. The busy outfit was packaging their wares when police officers appeared on the scene, arresting two members. Others made a run for it, while their fallen comrades admitted it was all precisely what it seemed. Rasmey Kampuchea

Pagoda is no protection in deadly argument

A 21-year-old was stabbed to death in a pagoda in Pursat’s Bakan district on Saturday. A neighbour reported that the man and his assailant had a blue outside the temple before the victim went inside to offer food. Police say his attacker followed him inside and stabbed the unsuspecting man in the neck and chest. He died on the way to hospital. The suspect managed to escape. Kampuchea Thmey

Police stumped about death of booze seller

Police have ruled out murder in the mysterious death of a Battambang drink store owner, who was found dead in his car on Friday. The 39-year-old had enjoyed a tipple with his friends before going out, never to return home. The man was discovered apparently undisturbed in his car. Police are still stumped as to how the man shuffled off this mortal coil and are examining the body. Rasmey Kampuchea

Translated by Sen David