The Phnom Penh municipal traffic police denied local media reports that a motorist collided with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s motorcade on Russian Boulevard in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district on Thursday morning.

Local media reported that a man was arrested after he drove his car into Hun Sen’s motorcade en route to Phnom Penh International Airport, where he was scheduled to depart for an official visit to Hungary from June 13 to 15.

According to the Phnom Penh municipal police Facebook page, the man was apprehended by police for speeding while intoxicated and not because he hit the motorcade.

Municipal traffic police chief Sem Kunthea said in a statement that traffic police saw the man speeding and pulled him over to avoid a traffic accident. A sobriety test later indicated intoxication.

“Media, please collect reliable and true information before reporting to the public because it can cause confusion,” Kunthea said.

Kunthea and Phnom Penh municipal police chief Sar Thet could not be reached for comment.

The Traffic Law’s Article 77 states any person who drives under the influence with a breath alcohol content of or above 0.40mg/l (0.08 per cent), or blood-alcohol concentration of or above 0.80g/l, shall be imprisoned from one to six months and fined from 800,000 to four million riel ($200 to $1,000).

Article 81 states that anyone who does not follow officers’ commands authorised to safeguard delegates’ or senior leaders’ processions and causes damage to any of their convoys’ vehicles can be imprisoned from one to six months and fined from 800,000 to four million riel.