District police apprehended a Ministry of Interior official Sunday and charged him with inflicting injury on another, Meanchey district police said.
Chhay Korm, 57, is accused of striking Uk Bopha, 44, three times with an ax after a verbal argument stemming from a personal dispute, police said. Chhay Korm, a first lieutenant in the Foreigner Department for the Ministry of Interior, is being detained in a Meanchey district detention facility until his trial, police said.
Ny Daravuth, deputy police chief for Chbar Ampou II commune, Meanchey district, said Tuesday that Uk Bopha visited his relative Kuch Hour’s house—located adjacent to Chhay Korm’s house—on Sunday. Witnesses said Kuch Hour, who is related to Uk Bopha, had an argument with Chhay Korm on Sunday morning, which eventually led Chhay Korm to grab an ax and attack Uk Bopha, Ny Daravuth said.
Chhay Korm allegedly hit Uk Bopha twice in the head and once in the back with the ax, Ny Daravuth said. Uk Bopha, who is in serious condition, is being treated at an undisclosed Phnom Penh hospital.
General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, could not comment on the alleged attack because he was unfamiliar with both the suspects and the incident, he said.
Major Yun Chhun Ny, Chhay Korm’s superior, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
A trial date for Chhay Korm has not yet been set, police said.
