Two men were arrested more than a fortnight after the December 11 hit-and-run incident which killed two primary schoolgirls. Photo supplied
Two men were arrested on Tuesday in Por Sen Chey district – more than a fortnight after the December 11 hit-and-run incident which killed two primary schoolgirls in Koh Dach commune, in Chroy Changvar district.
Bun Satya, the chief of the Phnom Penh minor crimes bureau, told The Post on Tuesday that Sok Nov, 60, the owner of a Toyota Highlander and his driver Soth, 38, were arrested while driving in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district.
“They are being questioned at the Phnom Penh municipal police and would be sent to court later,” Satya said.
Last Friday, Phnom Penh police also arrested a man whose car was seen at the scene. But he was released on Tuesday after proving he was not involved in the fatal accident.
Local media quoted witnesses at the scene saying that at 7am, 13-year-old Khen Kora, an 8th-grade student, and 12-year-old Phoan Phyra, a 7th-grade student of a primary school in the commune were riding a motorcycle upon leaving the school after extra English classes.
As they made their way home, a speeding car hit the two, killing them instantly, while the driver fled the scene.
Koh Dach commune police chief Chum Samnang said last week that police are on the hunt for the driver after recovering CCTV footage of the incident from an owner of the commune ferry dock.
He said there were three cars at the scene on that day, including an Audi SUV and a Toyota Highlander.
Parents of the victims wrote to Prime Minister Hun Sen last week seeking help. They said they had not yet received justice for their children. The letter said the footage had been captured by a surveillance camera.
“Samdech Techo [Hun Sen], please kindly help intervene in this case for poor people like us,” the letter said.
The Child Protection Unit (CPU) on Tuesday said following a joint investigation in cooperation with Traffic and Public Order Police Command, Department of Forensic Services, Phnom Penh Police Command and the CPU Homicide Investigation Team, a 38-year-old male was being interviewed in regards to the hit-and-run incident.
“Investigators have also seized a Toyota Highlander and are conducting a forensic examination of the vehicle.
“The CPU would like to thank all investigators involved in this investigation for their perseverance and commitment in locating the suspect,” it said on its Facebook page.
