JANUARY 1: The body of a 30-year-old unidentified man was found in a canal
in Chhoung Tadok village, Battambang province. Police said car tire marks indicated
the man was murdered elsewhere with an ax and his body dropped there.
JANUARY 1: Police arrested two people accused by a third person of committing
a robbery with him the previous night in Kset Borey village, Pursat province. Police
had arrested Mean Sokun, who later confessed that the other two people were co-offenders.
Police said the suspects robbed Yep Sokun, 59, and stole his jewelry, two mobile
phones, two watches and five million riel in cash.
JANUARY 1: Tol Sinith, 20, was sent to a clinic and later transferred to a
provincial hospital for treatment after being knifed during a brawl at 11:35am in
Ponley Chour village, Kampong Cham province. A bystander told police that Sinith
was chopped several times in the head and the face with a cleaver while arguing with
a group of gangsters who escaped after the assault.
JANUARY 2: A 51-year-old man, Ta Sap, 51, was arrested while trying to escape
after killing a construction worker, Sok Rin, 26, during an affray at 7:30am in Bale
Ley village, Banteay Meanchey province. Police said Sap entered Rin's house and caused
a disturbance, then stabbed him to death with a knife.
JANUARY 3: Police wounded one burglar and arrested another as they tried to
escape on a stolen motorbike in O'Russey 2 commune, Phnom Penh. Police said Ly Mao,
22, was shot in the leg after stealing a motorbike belonged to Pen Sovanthoeun, 43.
A bystander said Mao's accomplice, Heng Van, 19, was grabbed and beaten nearly to
death by a crowd.
JANUARY 3: Khat Chan, 32, was knifed and severely injured during a revenge
attack at 9:15pm in Svay Pak village, Prey Veng province. Chan told police that an
unknown man appeared from a nearby forest and chopped him three times then escaped
while he was walking home from a neighbor's house where he had been a dinner guest
after organizing a search that led to the recovery of a missing cow.
JANUARY 3: A 30-year-old businessman identified as Ra was robbed while driving
a car at 8:30pm in Kandal village, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh. Ra said two robbers
on a motorbike blocked the path of his car and broke the glass in one of the car
doors then stole his money bag containing more than $10,000 collected from debtors
in Chbar Ampov market.
JANUARY 4: Police arrested Lau Phe, 24, and his brother, Lau Tith, 20, after
they were accused of killing a neighbor four months ago in Rokar Loeu village, Kandal
province. Police said the two suspects and four other people escaped after killing
San Kun, 23, during an argument at a drinking session. Police said Kun was attacked
with heavy knives and later died in a hospital.
JANUARY 4: Sam Sopheak, 23, was taken to Preah Kossamak hospital after being
knifed in an argument at 8:10pm in Sleng Roling village, Phnom Penh. A bystander
told police Sopheak was stabbed in the waist and chopped in the arm with a sword
while arguing with Van, 23. Police arrested Van, but he was later freed after offering
Sopheak $150 to cover medical expenses.
JANUARY 4: A 19-year-old woman, Lai Sreyda, was robbed while walking after
her motorbike ran out of gasoline at 10:40pm in Spean Khpous village, Phnom Penh.
Sreyda complained to police that three people aimed a handgun at her and demanded
her gold necklace and mobile phone, then escaped on a motorbike.
JANUARY 5: Troeng Mao, 24, was found dead at 7:30am in a ricefield in Trapaing
Beng village, Kampong Cham province. Police said Mao was reportedly knifed three
times while returning home the previous night from a wedding party at a neighbor's
house. Police suspect revenge was the motive because his mobile phone had not been
stolen.
JANUARY 5: Police sent Bo Chin, 20, to a provincial hospital for treatment
after he was severely injured during a brawl at midnight in Tumnop Teuk village,
Battambang province. A witness told police that Chin was hit on the head with a stick
and stabbed twice in the stomach by a group of gangsters who had argued with him
at a festival celebrated at Bovel primary school. The assailants escaped.
JANUARY 6: A student, Hun Visal, 19, was robbed of his motorbike while returning
home from a private school at around 8pm in Rom Chek 5 village, Battambang province.
Visal complained to police that two robbers blocked his path and threatened to kill
him with a handgun. Visal said they struck him on the head with the butt then escaped
on his bike after he refused to give them the key.
JANUARY 6: Siem Sim, 24, was sent to a provincial hospital for surgery after
his wife shot him with a crossbow in Sahak Kreas village, Kampong Cham province.
Sim told police at the hospital that his wife was angry and shot him in the stomach
as he knocked her head with his knuckle. Sim begged the police not to arrest his
wife because she acted without prior intent.
JANUARY 7: A Cham, Tol Loh Maharth, 23, was found dead in the early morning
in Psar Tauch village, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Police came to inspect the
body and said Maharth was stabbed several times in the neck and the chest. Police
suspect revenge was the motive.
JANUARY 7: Police arrested one of five gunmen who robbed a telephone shop
at 4pm in Psar Kandal 1 commune, Phnom Penh. The shop's owner, Sok Heng, 38, said
two of the five aimed handguns at him and threatened to kill his family, then another
accomplice collected 30 mobile phones and they all escaped on two motorbikes parked
and waiting in front of the shop.
JANUARY 9: Police arrested a 27-year-old monk, Kang Nan, as he tried to escape
after killing a 73-year-old man, Kong El, about 9am in Trabek Toung village, Kampong
Speu province. Police said Nan entered El's house and chopped him three times in
the head with an ax while El was cooking food at his kitchen. Nan told police that
he killed El because he was a sorcerer.
- Translated from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmei Kampuchea by Aun
Pheap
