PHONE THIEF NABBED AT TEMPLE PARTY

A 26-year-old penniless barber was caught red-handed by Prampi Makara district police after pillaging a cellphone from a woman identified as Keo Srey Pich while she was moving through a crowd of people at Olympic Stadium to attend the one-year anniversary of Preah Vihear temple's inscription as a World Heritage site Tuesday, police said. Police identified the perpetrator as Seng Vichet, residing in the district's Veal Vong commune. After the arrest, the man confessed to police that he was forced to commit the crime because he could not afford his rent.

KOH SANTEPHEAP

MAN KICKS PREGNANT WIFE OVER MISTAKE

A two-months pregnant construction worker gave her 25-year-old husband a playful slap while they were playing joyfully together Tuesday at a construction site in Phnom Penh's Meanchey district. Unaware that she meant it affectionately, Vorn Chak struck back and began to kick her repeatedly. To escape from her husband's kicks, Sok Ry, 22, ran for help. However, she slipped and fell over a bed, knocking herself unconscious. After the incident, police advised the man to rush his wife to a hospital.

KAMPUCHEA THMEY

SRI LANKAN JAILED ON DRUG CHARGES

A Sri Lankan man was sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined US$10,000 by Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday for distributing drugs and circulating counterfeit US bills. Sun Hassim, 27, was arrested in July 2008 in Phnom Penh's Chamkarmon district. After the arrest, police confiscated five yama tablets, a small package of heroin and five counterfeit $100 notes.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

MENTALLY ILL MAN STRANGLES SELF

A 42-year-old father of four children committed suicide by strangling himself with a cotton scarf Monday in Takeo province's Bati district for unknown reasons. However, his wife, Yuon Cheoun, 43, described her husband as mentally ill. Police identified the victim as Mao Sophea, 42.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA

MIRROR SMASH ENDS IN PURSAT TRAGEDY

Mao Kem Long, a 13-year-old student, hanged himself with twine at his house in Pursat's Banteay Dey commune on July 8, after being accused by his teacher and father of breaking a mirror at his school valued at around US$2. A relative of the pupil told police that at around 11pm, the teacher took the broken mirror to show the boy's parents. The boy denied doing breaking the mirror, but his father blamed him anyway. A few hours later, the boy committed suicide.

RASMEY KAMPUCHEA