Three men were arrested yesterday morning over the fatal shooting of a man during a drinking game in Kampong Thom province.

Cousins Khan Len, 21, Kheng Sophat, 21, and Min Boeun, 26, were drinking with the victim Chhorn Vuoch, 25, at a farm in Sandan district’s Klerng Commune and challenging each other to chug beer, according to Uong Moly, the district police chief.

Boeun, unable to finish his drink, sought to have his wife complete the task, but Vuoch, Boeun’s brother-in-law, disagreed and demanded his sister-in-law finish a full glass.

When she refused, Vuoch slapped her, splashing her with beer, and sending his companions into a rage.

“The husband and two cousins . . . rushed to beat the victim. Boeung grabbed the air-rifle and shot the victim in the back to death while he was running to the house to seek help from the parents,” Moly alleged.

The men are preliminarily accused of intentional murder, he said.