The Takeo Provincial Court on Friday charged three men over a string of armed robberies in which their victims were shot.

Chief of Takeo’s serious crime bureau Sem Socheat identified the accused as Thou Thun, 42, Hun Rithy, 26, and Rim Ran, 36.

He said they were arrested on February 11 in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district after being involved in armed robberies in January and on February 6.

“Thun was charged with two offences – attempted murder and theft with aggravating circumstances. His two accomplices were charged with only theft with aggravating circumstances. They were put in jail,” he said on Sunday.

He said Thun was the perpetrator who robbed and shot the victims, seriously injuring them. The other two accused just colluded with him, he said, adding that they used guns to threaten victims to steal their motorbikes in Kampot province and Phnom Penh.

“I questioned Thun. He said he and his two accomplices never killed anyone,” Socheat said.

Socheat said the Ministry of Interior crime department police was asked to aid in the capture of the suspects.

Crime department police arrested them along National Road 3 in Por Sen Chey district, he said.

On February 6, Thun planned to attack and rob a man he was jealous of over a love affair with a woman, he said.

Earlier on January 12, he also robbed and shot another victim to take his motorbike. The victim suffered a serious injury to his leg.

Takeo province’s Bati district deputy police chief Khuth Lou said Thun had two arrest warrants against him.