Phnom Penh police Thursday were seeking an arrest warrant for a commune police officer who they say shot and killed a 21-year-old high school student as he cowered in the front seat of a car, officials said.
Police requested the warrant and were waiting for the appropriate paperwork from Phnom Penh Municipal Court in order to arrest Men Sarin, 32, a Phsar Thmei II commune police officer, Daun Penh district deputy police chief Uch Thorn said.
Authorities have accused Men Sarin, a 10-year veteran of the commune police force, of being the trigger man in the Wednesday morning shooting death of Seng Kong Hong, a Prampi Makara district resident.
Witnesses told authorities that two uniformed police officers on a motorbike pulled up next to a white Toyota Camry and opened fire as the passengers crouched on the floor of the car. The shooting occurred in front of a restaurant near Phsar Thmei. Seng Kong Hong was struck by three bullets from an AK-47 and died instantly, authorities say.
The incident began Wednesday morning around 9 am, when the car, in which Seng Kong Hong and five others were passengers, nudged several vehicles and did not stop. Residents of the area began yelling, “Thief! Thief!” and the two police officers allegedly grabbed an assault rifle and gave chase.
The man on the back of the motorbike opened fire, shooting out the Camry’s rear window, witnesses said. The car pulled to a stop in front of Soriya restaurant at 700 St 142, and witnesses say the two officers pulled up alongside it.
The man on the back of the motorbike aimed the rifle at Seng Kong Hong and opened fire, witnesses said. As an angry crowd gathered, the police officers fled the scene, witnesses said.
Authorities believe Men Sarin went back to commune police headquarters, where he stashed his assault rifle before fleeing, Uch Thorn said. Men Sarin probably has not left Phnom Penh, Uch Thorn said.
The shooting was a tragedy, but partial responsibility lay with the hysterical crowd, Uch Thorn said.
“We are very sorry; there was a big mistake made in this incident,” Uch Thorn said. “But the shooting was an accident caused by the people on the street yelling, ‘Thief!’”
Daun Penh district officers went to Wat Ounalom, where Seng Kong Hong’s funeral was held, and contributed money to the family, Uch Thorn said.
