Swimming death

THREE security guards at the Olympic Stadium swimming pool in Phnom Penh were arrested yesterday morning after a 15-year-old boy drowned on Sunday. They were later released after their employer paid US$2,000 in compensation to the teen’s parents.

Sin Makara, general manager of the swimming pool, said yesterday that the guards were arrested by Prampi Makara district police after the parents of 15-year-old Yin Sopheap filed a complaint.

“My security guards were released after my company ... paid a total of $2,000 to the victim’s parents as they demanded,” he said.

Sin Makara said that on Sunday a group of young people had come to the pool.

“While they were swimming ... a 15-year-old boy disappeared. Our security guards went into the water to look for him,” he said. “His body was found within about 20 minutes of his drowning and he was [declared] dead on his way to a private clinic.”

Sin Makara added that the boy’s death was not the security guards’ fault.

District police chief Yin San declined to comment yesterday.