Two Sam Rainsy party members were arrested Tuesday morning after they were accused of selling a Chong Kal district, Oddar Meanchey province villager a bronze cow they claimed was a valuable artifact, police and judicial officials said.
Pheung Sam Ban, the opposition’s elected first deputy of the Krasaing commune council in Chong Kal district, and Lay Sophearith, representative of the Sam Rainsy Party in Chongkal district, allegedly sold the fake artifact to Porn Mach, 44, for about $850, said Siem Reap Provincial Judge Ieng Kimthol, who has control over the case because Oddar Meanchey has yet to set up its own court.
Sam Rainsy Party Senator Meng Rita said that the seven armed men who arrested the accused did not have a warrant and the two men have not been charged with any crime.
Police only said they were just executing orders from their superiors when they were asked by Pheung Sam Ban’s wife what the charges were, Meng Rita said.
After being questioned, the two men admitted they knew they were selling a fake antiquity, but said they were not the owners of the cow, Ieng Kimthol said.
“Although they didn’t admit they cheated [they were the owners], I think they did it,” he said. Ieng Kimthol said he issued arrest warrants because he received a complaint from the victim.
Oddar Meanchey province Police Chief At Khem, said he had received two warrants from the Siem Reap Provincial Court.
“I didn’t know which political parties they are from. I arrested them according to the warrants,” At Khem said. The police did not act violently toward the two men, he said. He received the warrants July 10, but failed to arrest the men because they escaped into the forest, he said.
Meng Rita claimed witnesses to the arrest said Pheung Sam Ban and Ly Sophearith were stripped to their underwear before being taken into custody.
Pheung Sam Ban was arrested in his house, and Lay Sophearith was arrested in a nearby forest, police said. Both men are being held in a Siem Reap provincial jail.
