Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Hit and run driver who killed three sentenced

Hit and run driver who killed three sentenced

Hit-and-run suspect Meas Sokheng (right) walks into the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday. Photo supplied
Meas Sokheng (right), who killed three people in a hit-and-run last year, walks into the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday. Photo supplied

Hit and run driver who killed three sentenced

A man who killed three people in a hit-and-run crash last March – and then was beaten into a coma by a mob – was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Nou Veasna also ordered Meas Sokheng, 30, to pay a $2,500 fine and $40,000 to the families of the three dead and one of the injured.

Three years is the maximum sentence for Sokheng’s charges, although Veasna suspended one year of the sentence. Sokheng has already spent 10 months in prison.

Sokheng was charged last year with “careless driving” after he tried to flee a minor collision and knocked over several motorcyclists as he sped the wrong way up Monivong Boulevard, killing a family of three and injuring eight more.

A mob, captured on video, quickly caught up to and brutally beat Sokheng into a coma and tried to set his car on fire.

At his trial in December, Sokheng appeared to have cognitive difficulties and was unable to recall even basic information such as his date of birth and where he lives. At the time, his lawyer asked the court to be lenient given his mental state, although neither side submitted a medical report.

Sokheng did not speak at his sentencing hearing yesterday, although he was heard later asking police to explain his sentence to him.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.