A police captain attached to the Ministry of Interior was sentenced to three years in jail yesterday for shooting a hostess at a karaoke bar in a drunken rage in the capital late last year.

Captain So Sokun, who fled immediately after the December 18 incident, was sentenced in absentia. In addition to the prison term, he was also fined 6 million riel, about $1,500, and ordered to pay compensation to 25-year-old victim Yon Thea.

“[The court] is ordering him to pay $2,500 in compensation to the victim,” presiding judge Chuon Soreasey told the courtroom at Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Soreasey added that he was ordering police “to arrest Sokun and bring him to serve his [prison sentence] according to the court’s decision”.

Chbar Ampov district police officer Kim Sokly had earlier testified that Sokun and three friends had driven in a luxury vehicle to a Chbar Ampov II commune karaoke parlour after a night of heavy drinking.

While drinking and singing, Sokun became enraged that none of the staff had offered to sit with him, then shot Thea in the leg after she refused his demands.

Neither So Sokun nor his defence lawyer could be reached for comment yesterday.