Koh Kong provincial criminal police on May 23 detained a fugitive after hunting him down for nearly one year in relation to the alleged murder of a 19-year-old man in Khemarak Phoumin town’s Dang Tong commune last year.
Provincial deputy police chief Khem Sane said on May 24 that Yorn Virak, a 22-year-old worker at a private company, was arrested in Peam Krasop village of Mondul Seima district’s Peam Krasop commune and was sent to prison the same day.
“The accused hacked the victim to death and escaped. Police have been hunting for him for some time in accordance with the court’s arrest warrant,” he said.
According to the court warrant signed by judge Keo Sokha, on the night of June 22 last year, Virak chased the victim – Ly Ngar – with a sword and a machete, delivering several serious blows. Ngar succumbed to his injuries outside a school in Dang Tong commune, and the suspect fled the scene.
Police investigated the murder, identified the suspect and built a case, which was sent to the provincial court on June 24. The court heard the case in absentia and announced a verdict against Virak on January 19 of this year.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison under two charges – intentional violence with aggravating circumstances resulting in death and intentional violence with aggravating circumstances, under articles 224 and 218 of the Criminal Code.
