FEBRUARY 1: Tim Ed, 51, a farmer, was sent to Preah Kossamak Hospital after

being shot during a night-time robbery in Prey Tamean village, Kong Pisei district,

Kampong Speu. Police said he was shot in the chest after trying to arrest several

gunmen who stole a pair of cows and two motorbikes from villager Chea Than, 48. Than

was also shot and wounded in the attack

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FEBRUARY 1: Long Sinath, 32, a police officer, was sent to the Russian Hospital

for treatment after being knifed during a night-time quarrel in Meanchey village,

Phnom Penh. Police said Sinath, who was drunk while celebrating Chinese New Year,

was stabbed four times in the stomach by a neighbor. Sinath had earlier complained

after he was bitten by his neighbor's dog.

FEBRUARY 2: Police filed a complaint against Sek Hoi, 20, after he was

accused of raping a girl two days earlier in Chomkar Koh village, Romeas Hek district,

Svay Rieng. Police said Hoi raped a 14-year-old girl while her parents were away

at the provincial hospital. The parents have demanded damages of two million riel

from Hoi.

FEBRUARY 3: The body of a 21-year-old man, Loeut Sopheakdey, a motodop

driver, was found in a forest in Phnom Chroy Sna village, Baveal district, Battambang

province. Police said he had been murdered the previous week and his bike stolen.

FEBRUARY 3: Police arrested Tin Leakhan, 20, after he was accused of rape

in Tonle Bassac commune, Phnom Penh. Police said the man had raped a 14-year-old

girl after persuading her to go for a night-time riverside stroll four days earlier.

FEBRUARY 3: Chieu Leangkheng, 23, was sent to the provincial hospital for

treatment after being knifed at 10:30 pm in Mong Baraing village, Kampong Chhnang

province. Police said he was stabbed in the waist by a group of gangsters who were

angry after he glared at them when they walked through his dance. One of the gangsters

was identified as Choun Routha.

FEBRUARY 4: A 24-year-old karaoke shop worker, Chou Bopha, was sent to

a hospital for treatment after she attempted suicide at 8 pm in Khva village, Dangkor

district, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Police said she consumed 30 sleeping pills

after the shop owner fired her for refusing to have sex with the customers.

FEBRUARY 4: A 22-year-old woman was raped at 6 pm at her house in Chke

Khampreus village, Mong Russey district, Battambang. The girl filed a complaint with

the police stating that Heng Sovann, 22, a monk from Cholik Karam Pagoda, raped her

while her parents were away from home. Sovann was later arrested.

FEBRUARY 4: Police arrested Noeum Noeun, 23, after he was accused of a

rape committed the previous week in Ampil village, Prasad Bakong district, Siem Reap.

Police said Noeun confessed to raping an 11-year-old girl and threatening to sell

her into prostitution if she told her parents. He was also charged for another rape

committed in 1999.

FEBRUARY 5: Pen Sovanna, 30, and her 6-year-old son, died instantly in

an accident at 8:30 am on National Road 5 in Rom Chek Boun village, Battambang province.

Police said the victims were passengers on a motorbike hit by taxi driver Hok Lai,

30. He was later arrested after he tried to flee the scene. Sovanna's husband, who

was driving the bike, was severely injured.

FEBRUARY 5: Chea Chan, 58, was beaten to death at 10:40 pm in Sre Ambel

village, Ang Snuol district, Kandal province. Police said he was struck several times

on the head with a hoe by his brother-in-law, Iem Ea, 45, who was angry that Chan

had beaten his sister while he was drunk. Ea escaped.

FEBRUARY 6: Sam Bunthoeun, 48, an abbot at Phnom Ettarus Pagoda in Kandal

province, was sent to Calmette Hospital for emergency surgery after being shot when

he returned from school at 9:20 am at Wat Lanka in Phnom Penh. A witness told police

that two gunmen shot the monk twice in the back before escaping on a motorbike. Bunthoeun

died the next day.

FEBRUARY 6: The body of a 31-year-old unidentified woman, wearing black

trousers and a white shirt, was found floating in a river in Preah Ponlea village,

Meanchey district, Phnom Penh. Police did not comment except to say that she was

not murdered as her body showed no signs of injury. The body was sent to Chak Angre

Krom Pagoda for cremation.

FEBRUARY 6: Ouk Vanchhai, 45, died on the way to a provincial hospital

after he was shot at 6:55 pm while on the phone in Thmar Kaul village, Battambang

province. Police said he was shot twice in the back by the son of a 41-year-old widow,

Pen Thaovary. The widow, who vends spare parts for cars, had been involved in an

affair with Vanchhai.

FEBRUARY 7: Kheng Khen, 18, died at Preah Kossamak Hospital after a suicide

attempt at 7:30 pm in Anlong Sleng village, Muk Kampoul district, Kandal province.

Police said he drank a bottle of poison after his father scolded him for ignoring

his advice.

FEBRUARY 8: Prak Phally, 33, a soldier in the engineering division, was

severely injured in an accident at midnight while driving a car on Russian Federation

Boulevard in Khbal Domrey village, Dangkor district, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

Police said Phally was drunk and hit an electrical post while driving too fast. The

traffic police are insisting he pay $1,400 for damaging the post.

- Translated from Khmer newspapers Koh Santepheap and Rasmei Kampuchea by Aun

Pheap