Freshie Boy Sok Vireak could have been saved from suicide if the family had given US$500 to the police, a relative of the star says.

Sok Vireak, 19, was the third runner-up in TV 3’s Freshie Boy 2012 Contest, which honours the most handsome man in the nation.

On May 24, about 3:30pm, he was pronounced dead after jumping from the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh, a popular spot for suicides, reportedly after being dumped by his girlfriend.

Mam Kim Eng, who claimed to be a close relative, said: “There was a fishing boat and police at the spot, but nobody could save him.

They said they would save the boy if they were given $500.” Kem Kong, the police officer in charge of the area, said that claim was untrue.

“Some people said the fishing boat asked for money to save the victim, so I think people may be confused and think that the police asked for $500.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Seth Kimsoeurn at [email protected]