Chroy Changvar commune police arrested two young men on March 8 after they were filmed riding together on a motorcycle along a public road as one of them hit a foreign man in the head with his hand as they drove past.

The video of the assault was posted to social media and went viral quickly.

Chroy Changvar commune police chief Chan Bunthoeun identified the two suspects as Lim Hong Leng – a 18-year-old Grade 11 student living in a rented house in Kien Khleang village of Chroy Changvar commune – and Rith Chandara, a 17-year-old living in a rented house in Mouy village of Chroy Changvar commune.

The two suspects were quickly identified by acquaintances on social media and the district police chief assigned Chroy Changvar commune police officers to locate them.

“The two suspects have been sent to the Russey Keo district police station. For any further actions taken in this matter, that is under their jurisdiction,” he said.

Bunthoeun said the suspects had confessed that before the assault, they were out getting drunk and were driving home when they saw a foreign man with a bald head riding a bicycle in the same direction they were headed.

Leng confessed that he drove next to the foreigner and Chandara slapped the man on the head with as much force as he could. While they were doing this, two or three of their other friends were hanging back waiting to record the action. Afterwards they all shouted and laughed at the foreigner and then drove away.

Bunthoeun said the suspect had posted a video of the assault on TikTok and on Facebook.

Ek Sereyvuth, deputy Russey Keo district police chief in charge of criminal offences, declined to comment, saying police were still working on the case. Kim Sarom