MARCH 8: Khon Phal, 25, was arrested for murder in Kampong Thmar village,

Prey Veng province. Police said Phal and two others also arrested, Khon Rasmey, 22,

and Ol Nem, 23, jointly murdered a couple, Mao Tum, 46, and Chhour Ol, 42. The couple

were axed to death while they were riding home on a motorbike from Phal's house where

they had argued. Phal said he killed the couple because they forced him to divorce

his wife.

MARCH 8: San Thon, 22, reported to the police station in Veal Vong village,

Pursat province, that her three-month-old baby had been stolen and found dead 200

meters from the house where she slept the previous night with her mother-in-law.

After investigation, police arrested Thon, who confessed that she had strangled the

baby because she was in despair after the provincial court had jailed her husband

on a charge of theft.

MARCH 9: Ream Cheam, 38, a farmer, was arrested by police after killing his

8-month-old baby and trying to escape into a nearby jungle at 1:30pm in Ek Pheap

village, Preah Vihear province. Soun Savorn, 28, told police that Cheam took the

son from her hands then struck him on the head with a tree as she denied to reunite

after he left her for one month.

MARCH 9: Kin Borasy, 26, died in Calmette Hospital where he was taken after

two gunmen wounded him during a nighttime robbery in Sras Chak commune, Phnom Penh.

His wife, Nhim Dane, 19, who had been with Borasy, said two robbers on a motorbike

blocked her husband's path and shot him once in the right ear with a handgun, then

stole his motorbike.

MARCH 11: Huon Sinoeun, 23, was taken to Calmette Hospital for surgery after

two robbers wounded him after he stopped his motorbike to urinate on the sidewalk

of Sisowath Quay during the night in Chey Chumnas commune, Phnom Penh. Witnesses

told police that one of the two shot Sinoeun in the chest with a K-59 handgun then

stole his bike.

MARCH 12: Police arrested Nuch Thivan, 25, and Khim Chamroeun, 25, who were

charged in Phnom Penh Municipal Court with the brutal torture of an 11-year-old recycling

boy, Choun Piseth, in Boeng Kak village, Phnom Penh. Police said the men captured

Piseth and cut off three of his fingers with a cleaver because the boy had stolen

a plastic can of paint.

MARCH 12: Kim Vandan, 48, was arrested for a murder a day earlier in Tasen

village, Kampong Cham province. Police said Vandan tried to escape after shooting

dead a vehicle garage's owner, Yean Mengleang, while he was asleep the previous night.

Vandan told police Hong Sreymom, 33, the extra-wife of Mengleag, hired him to kill

her husband with a promise of paying him $2,000. Police arrested Sreymom for questioning

and she later confessed to ordering Mengleang's murder.

MARCH 12: Sreng Chhai, 37, was arrested and charged with killing a neighbor,

Chaing Bunkhy, 49, at 1:10pm in Tonle Bassac commune, Phnom Penh. Police said Bunkhy

was stabbed once in the chest with a knife while coming to visit Chhai's mother.

Chhai told police he killed Bunkhy because he was a sorcerer. Chhai said his family

always got sick when Bunkhy came to his house. However, Chhai's mother told police

her son had a mental problem.

MARCH 13: Neang Sorya, 17, was found gravely wounded in the early morning

behind her house in Tasous village and later died in Svay Reang Provincial Hospital.

Police said Sorya died from head injuries caused by being beaten with a stick after

being raped the previous night. Chea Sokchan, 25, a brother-in-law of Soray, was

arrested after police found his slippers at the scene.

MARCH 14: Huy Hon, 28, died at a provincial hospital after jumping from the

third floor of Boeng Chhouk guesthouse where he stayed for one night with his four

children in Prek Mahatep village, Battambang province. Police said Hon's daughter

said he committed suicide because he was suffering after his wife had left him for

another man.

MARCH 15: A motorbike taxi driver, Chea Oeun, 24, was knifed and later died

150 meters away while trying to escape his attackers at 9:20pm in Chong Kaosu village,

Siem Reap province. Witnesses told police two passengers asked Oeun to stop and while

paying him his fee one of them stabbed him in the neck then they escaped on his bike.

MARCH 16: Mam Sopheap, 21, was arrested after injuring his friend, Son Sokleng,

20, at 8:30pm in Trapaing Ampil village, Kampong Speu province. Police said Sopheap

came to Sokleng's house and chopped him twice in the head with an ax. Sopheap told

police he chopped Sokleng to prevent a revenge attack because he recently argued

with him during a drinking session.

MARCH 17: Hin Kimhean, 45, was found dead at 6:30am where a truck had been

seen parked the previous night in Spean Thmey village, Kandal province. Police said

Kimhean was killed elsewhere and his body dropped there. Police arrested a man for

questioning after he was suspected of the murder as he came from the same village

in Kampong Cham province.

MARCH 17: Hem Houn,15, was killed by lightning while looking after her family's

cows with other children at 3:30pm in a field in Dop Bard village, Pursat province.

Police said the sky suddenly became black, then lightning shot over the children

and the girl died instantly. San Nov, 13, was also struck but survived and was treated

at a provincial hospital.

MARCH 18: Pich Pon, 47, was arrested after fatally injuring Taing Phong, 68,

four days earlier in Prey Rong village, Kampong Speu province. Police said Phong

died two days later in a hospital after Pon strangled her when she tried to stop

him robbing her granddaughter of a gold necklace.

MARCH 18: Lightning killed three women during an afternoon rainstorm in two

different communes in Banon district, Battambang province. Police named the women

as Chhang Ho, 59, Loeum Mao, 48, and Phang Chanthang, 23. Police said the lightning

struck again and injured Phoeut Phy, 23, as he came to rescue his wife, Chanthang.

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

Pheap