Minister of Interior Sar Kheng temporarily suspended Ing Laychhay, the deputy police chief of Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district on charges of aggravated theft of money and gold during a raid.

On March 16, at 11:00pm, district and provincial security forces, which included Laychhay, carried out a raid on Kirirom Club in Phnom Sruoch district’s Treng Trayoeng commune.

A letter from Sar Kheng, dated July 19 said on April 1, the club’s owner, Tith Sinath, accused Laychhay of intrusion, stealing money and gold, illegally detaining and confining her husband and making threats against him.

The letter ordered him to appear during the provincial police headquarters’ during office hours.

District police chief Say Bun Thorn said Laychhay would be placed under supervision and investigation at the police headquarters.

National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun said the suspension was unreasonable.

“He [Laychhay] is under suspicion due to a complaint and is pending an investigation. When an investigation implicates him, we will fine him on the orders of the security forces,” he stressed.