Military Police in Preah Sihanouk province have launched a manhunt for three suspects who failed in their bid to allegedly kill a senior official attached to its Justice Department.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Military Police Deputy Commander Keo Sophal told The Post that Nha Viseth, the deputy head of Preah Sihanouk provincial Military Police’s Justice Department, escaped after he jumped out of a moving SUV.
Describing it as a murder attempt, Sophal said Viseth was injured and is warded at a hospital in Sihanoukville. “His face is badly injured and he will continue to stay in hospital for treatment,” Sophal said.
Leading up to the incident, on Saturday, after heading Military Police forces on a drug raid in Bit Trang commune in Pre Nub district, Viseth received complaints from residents of Korki village about a woman named Moeung Sreytouch and members of her alleged gang.
Apparently, they had gone on a retaliation spree, torching five homes and a motorbike, and injuring four people in the process, said Sophal.
Viseth and his forces went to inspect the sites and encountered the gang, led by Sreytouch, illegally logging in a nearby forest.
As his forces moved to arrest them, Sreytouch asked if she could first talk to Viseth to clear up what she described as a misunderstanding. Viseth agreed and climbed into her Lexus 570.
Viseth said: “Once I was inside the car with Sreytouch and two bodyguards, she swapped places with one of them and began to drive. I was ordered to turn off my phone and not contact anyone. Soon I realised she was heading to Phnom Penh,” he said.
He said he became uneasy and suspicious, believing they were up to no good. “I realised my life was in danger so I jumped out of the car, and in the process, my right ear was almost torn off and I suffered bruises and other injuries throughout my body.
“Fortunately, a provincial Military Police car that was chasing us caught up and rushed me to the Metpheap Klanh Leu Clinic for treatment,” he said.
Viseth said he has filed a report with provincial Military Police with a view to charge Sreytouch and her two bodyguards for “planning a murder”.
On Tuesday, authorities found the suspect’s car at the home of Nob Phean, who is now under interrogation at the provincial Military Police station.
