KANDAL provincial court has launched an investigation into a complaint filed by the family of a 25-year-old man who was allegedly beaten to death by two off-duty police officers at a wedding reception earlier this month, a court official said Thursday.

Long Chhun Leng was found dead on January 10 at his mother’s house, close to where the reception was held. An autopsy report stated that the man died from an unspecified illness, but his family and the rights group Adhoc filed a complaint later that week urging the court to re-investigate the case, saying the victim had been beaten to death by the two officers.

Phorn Phal, a clerk for the prosecutor, said the court was investigating the case. The prosecutor was scheduled to question the two officers on Wednesday, he said, but only one of the officers appeared. He said the prosecution “told him to come back when the pair could be summoned at the same time, because right now we are terribly busy with other cases”.

The victim’s mother-in-law, Prum Sokhoeun, said she was hopeful that the court would ultimately find justice for the family.

“But if the court fails to charge the two officers, we will bring all 132 witnesses to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house to call for help,” she said.