A victim of an assault by a drug dealer in Banteay Meanchey’s Thma Puok district on Wednesday made the dubious claim that the narcotics peddler had forced him to buy drugs.

The 28-year-old was recently released from prison for drug possession, police said. Last month, he said, the 44-year-old drug dealer “forced” him to buy a yama pill on credit.

When the dealer caught up with him and found the down-on-his-luck victim had no cash, he slapped him around and tried to take the victim’s motorbike. Police responded to the victim’s shouts, and arrested the dealer. DEUM AMPIL