Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Traffic officer drives drunk, pays the price

Traffic officer drives drunk, pays the price

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The traffic police officer who was detained for driving under the influence of alcohol on Wednesday. POLICE

Traffic officer drives drunk, pays the price

A traffic police officer who was caught driving drunk was fined and punished by the Phnom Penh Municipal Traffic Bureau as he admitted to the offence and agreed to take full responsibility for his actions, including paying compensation for any damages caused to property.

Municipal traffic police chief Sem Ratana told The Post that officers had investigated the incident in which Muong Seiha – chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Land Traffic Police – was driving under the influence of alcohol when he crashed into a fence at the University of Health Sciences located in Boeung Keng Kang district’s Tumnop Teuk commune near the intersection of Street 183 and Street 271, causing severe damage to his vehicle.

Citing Seiha’s confession, Ratana said that on the night of the incident, the officer was driving under the influence when he lost control and tried to drive onto the sidewalk to avoid hitting any other vehicles. The officer’s car came to a temporary halt, but he crashed it into the sandbags next to the university’s fence in the process.

“Even if he did not injure anyone or cause any casualties, as a traffic police officer he especially shouldn’t violate the traffic laws. He must be fined in accordance with the Road Traffic Law and he will be subject to disciplinary action by the National Police as well as held liable for civil damages to the property owners in the area,” Ratana said.

Ratana said the officer will also be suspended for one month according to the National Police’s code of conduct.

Reached for comment on April 28, Seiha told The Post that he regretted the incident.

“I understood my situation at that time and that I couldn’t just keep on driving, so I decided to take a break. But when I tried to park on the sidewalk, I hit the sandbags that were piled up next to the hospital’s fence,” he said, adding that he would take full responsibility for his actions.

His vehicle has been temporarily impounded by the Phnom Penh Municipal Traffic Police until the case is legally resolved.

According to Article 72 of the Road Traffic Law, driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.4 to 0.8 is an offence punishable by an imprisonment of between one and six months and a fine of up to four million riel ($1000). Those caught driving with a BAC higher than 0.8 are subject to even further penalties.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the