The Kampot Provincial Court has released a military officer accused of driving his overloaded truck onto a small iron bridge last month, causing it to buckle, an official said on Tuesday.
Choeun Theng, 37, who was arrested a week after fleeing the scene of the June 11 accident and subsequently charged with illegally transporting timber, was released on bail on Friday after paying $50,000 for repairs to the bridge and $5,000 in fines, said court spokesman Khann Sophal.
“He paid compensation for the restoration of the bridge, and the fine for overloading his vehicle…and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport issued a letter endorsing his release on bail,” he said.
Sam Puthdara, the commander of the military police in Kompong Speu province’s Oral district, said Mr. Theng returned to his home in the district in high spirits on Friday, after being released from prison.
“I heard there was a party at his house,” he said.
