Battambang provincial police on June 20 sent a senior border officer to court, one day after he was arrested in connection with an assault that fractured the skull of his colleague at the Dong International Border Checkpoint in Kamrieng district.
Deputy provincial police chief Lim Puthyla identified the accused as Heng Kimseang, deputy head of the police stationed at the Dong checkpoint, and the other officer as Hem Vibona, also deputy head of police at the same checkpoint.
“In fact, our officers sent [Kimseang] to the prosecutor on June 19, but because the court processed the case late, we had to detain him overnight and take him back there on June 20,” he said.
Deputy district police chief Nget Vanna recalled that Vibona was on duty until 8pm, when the accused took turn guarding the post.
At that time, Vibona told the accused to wear his uniform because he was on duty. But Kimseang refused and both exchanged heated words. The plaintiff then went home.
On June 18 at 6am, both met at work and were at each other’s throat, leading to a physical altercation allegedly initiated by Kimseang.
Puthyla, the deputy provincial police chief, said Kimseang allegedly hit Vibona in the head with a black cloth bag containing hard objects, opening a laceration on the latter’s scalp and fracturing his skull.
Later that day, Vibona filed a complaint with the district police, who then summonsed Kimseang for questioning and detained him.
“They had an argument in their workplace and because the victim refused to reconcile with the accused, he filed a complaint with our police station,” he said.
Hem Vibona could not be reached for comment on June 20.
