Man confesses to vengeful axe attack

A 33-year-old man was arrested and sent to Pursat provincial court on Wednesday, accused of attacking two men with an axe. Police said the suspect had confessed to hacking into the back of a 66-year-old man on Tuesday, claiming he was avenging his deceased father for a wrong that he refused to disclose. The victim also allegedly confessed to having “chopped in the head” a 55-year-old man who attempted to help the first victim. Both victims were sent to the provincial hospital for treatment. KOH SANTEPHEAP

Thief apprehended after returning for phone

A 25-year-old suspected motorbike thief has been arrested after police called a mobile phone dropped at the scene of a robbery, and the suspect came to collect it. Police said the suspect dropped the phone while stealing a motorbike from a 22-year-old student in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district on Thursday, and that the student handed it to police, who called the owner and told him to pick it up. KAMPUCHEA THMEY

Police nab ‘broken-hearted’ arsonist

A 38-year-old man has been arrested for attempting to burn down two of his neighbours’ homes in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town. Police said the suspect had tied up bamboo sticks with pieces of kerosene-soaked cloth, which he lit and threw onto the roofs of two homes, before throwing stones at passing motorcyclists. Police said the suspect was using drugs, had “a broken heart after his wife abandoned him”, and was also possibly mentally ill. KOH SANTEPHEAP

Soldier detained after drunken rampage

A 26-year-old soldier has been arrested after destroying the windows and doors of his mother-in-law’s home in a drunken rage in Kandal province’s Takhmao town. Police said the man was arrested on Wednesday after he drank about a litre of rice wine and flew into a violent rage when his mother-in-law – with whom he was staying – told him that she could not give him his salary because his employers had not yet sent it. The man, who police said is “addicted to rice wine”, tore down seven doors and windows before he was arrested. KAMPUCHEA THMEY

Gas station attendants arrested for fuel theft

Three gasoline station attendants have been arrested on suspicion of stealing about 1,000 litres of diesel in Preah Sihanouk province. Military police said the trio was arrested on Tuesday, and that two of the suspects had confessed to stealing the fuel and selling it for personal gain. The third suspect denied involvement in the scheme. RASMEY KAMPUCHEA