Police in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district have launched an investigation into a domestic violence case involving a court official on the night of March 12 in Teuk La’ak II commune.

Citing the plaintiff’s complaint, district police chief Sok Heng identified the accused as municipal court deputy prosecutor Muth Dara.

The plaintiff alleged that her estranged husband Dara beat her violently along with a housemaid and also threatened to shoot them with a gun. She said she has been married to Dara for 13 years and has one son and two daughters with him.

“The police are opening an investigation into this case according to procedures,” Heng said.

The plaintiff told reporters that before the alleged assault on the night of March 12, Dara switched off the security cameras in the house and accused her of stealing his money. After she denied stealing the money, he became very angry and beat her and threatened to shoot her with a pistol.

“I was very scared and I called the housemaid for help. When the housemaid came, my husband beat her and even pointed a gun at her. He then pushed her into a room and locked her in from the outside,” she said.

The wife then decided to call her parents in Kampong Chhnang province for help. Concerned about her safety, her parents drove to Phnom Penh immediately.

“My daughter has been beaten by her husband, Muth Dara, the municipal court deputy prosecutor, not just today but many times. But this time it was very serious and he threatened to kill my daughter at gunpoint. This cannot be endured anymore. It is necessary to bring the matter to court and let the law deal with it,” her mother said.

Muth Dara could not be reached for comment on March 13.