Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Funcinpec urges probe into deadly Preah Sihanouk accident

Funcinpec urges probe into deadly Preah Sihanouk accident

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The cremation ceremony for Ouk Phalla, wife of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, scheduled for later this week, is prepared in Phnom Penh. Phalla was killed on Sunday in a traffic accident in Preah Sihanouk province. Pha Lina

Funcinpec urges probe into deadly Preah Sihanouk accident

THE Funcinpec party has urged the government, especially the Ministry of Interior, to investigate the traffic accident in Preah Sihanouk province which left Prince Norodom Ranariddh badly injured and his wife Ouk Phalla dead.

Funcinpec Vice President You Hokry told reporters at Botum Votey pagoda, where Phalla’s body is being kept, that the party urged the government to launch a full investigation into the circumstances of the accident so the details can be known.

“He was severely wounded and sent to Bangkok on Sunday night. We just wonder how the prince’s convoy, accompanied by a car in the front with a siren, still crashed in this way.

“It is not the first time Ranariddh has had an accident like this . . . We just can’t understand how this has happened for a second time in a similar manner. So we hope that the government, particularly the Ministry of Interior, launches an investigation into this case,” he said.

Funcinpec Secretary-General Yim Savy said the prince was sent to Thailand via helicopter from the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital, after immediately being taken to Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hospital after the accident.

“He is fine and getting better. He is staying in Thailand for the time being,” he said.

Savy said Phalla’s cremation will take place on Wednesday at Botum Vatey Park with consent from the family and the Royal Palace.

“We agreed to arrange the cremation for June 20. The death is a tremendous loss for the people because they love and respect her. Party members also respected and loved her because of her service to the country,” he said, adding that the public and Funcinpec members will attend to pay their respects.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The casket of Ouk Phalla, wife of Prine Norodom Ranariddh, is displayed ahead of her cremation later this week. Pha Lina

Hy Hong, 71, who will be attending the cremation, said through tears that she was deeply saddened by the loss of Phalla.

“It should not happen to her. I have never met her in person, but I just cried when I heard the news. It is a great loss to the country,” she said.

Tith Savat, 66, a Funcinpec member, said Phalla is an outstanding individual as she had always tried to encourage Ranariddh to help people.

“We are so sorry that we have lost her. The loss motivates us to struggle for the people and party,” he said.

Phalla, 39, died at Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hospital at 12pm on June 17. She is survived by Ranariddh and two sons. She died three hours after the accident in Prey Nub district.

Ranariddh, who heads Funcinpec, and six other people were severely injured. They were sent to Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hospital and a hospital in Phnom Penh.

The driver of the Toyota Highlander that crashed into the motorcade carrying Phalla and Ranariddh has been put into pretrial detention at Preah Sihanouk Provincial Prison. He has been charged with “driving dangerously and causing injuries and death to others”. Initially identified as Vul Sareth, 34, by police officials, court documents gave his name as Mil Sareth.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry using ChatGPT AI to ‘ease workload’; Khmer version planned

    The Digital Government Committee is planning to make a Khmer language version of popular artificial intelligence (AI) technology ChatGPT available to the public in the near future, following extensive testing. On March 9, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications revealed that it has been using the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to