Infamous former military policeman Sath Soeun, 51, who was arrested in Ratanakkiri on Saturday for allegedly firing a dozen shots outside a karaoke parlour, was charged yesterday and sent to pre-trial detention, court officials said. Ratanakkiri Provincial Court judge Ros Sarom said that Soeun had been charged with the illegal use of a weapon.

According to military police officials, Soeun was visiting a karaoke parlour in Banlung district on Saturday when he was told his preferred hostess was not there, walked outside and fired 13 shots into the air.

Soeun has been linked to a violent slew of past crimes including a 1995 point-blank shooting of a 16-year-old thief.