National Police chief Neth Savoeun on Monday ordered the authorities to submit a case to Phnom Penh Municipal Court regarding the police captain who allegedly stole an iPad from a shop on Thursday morning, following harsh criticism on social media.

Savoeun told The Post on Monday: “We’ve taken the first step and interrogated him. The next step is to send him to court. We will merely submit the case first – whatever order we receive from the court, we will follow it.”

Phnom Penh Municipal Hall spokespersons Y Rin and Sous Vichea Randy on Monday declined to comment further on this issue. The two spokespersons referred the question to Ly Sophana, deputy prosecutor and Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesperson.

However, Ly Sophana could not be reached for comment.

Tuol Kork district police chief Sok Heng told The Post on Monday that the police captain had confessed his crime to them. The district police worked in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, which is in charge of the case.

Ngeng Chou, the head of the Ministry of Interior’s criminal police department, on Monday declined to comment on the issue.

According to a Fresh News report, the police captain, 24, who works as a maritime police officer, was allowed to return home by the Ministry of Interior’s criminal department on Thursday evening, after he told the police he had mistakenly taken the iPad from the vendor.

He was allowed to return after he signed an agreement and had someone stand guarantee for him.

A CCTV video clip displaying the police officer entering Wing shop “Raksmey Samaki” in Tuol Kork district and taking an iPad from the shop went viral on Facebook. It received harsh public criticism.

The officer returned the iPad to its original owner on Thursday following his release.