Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday charged three men with illegally manufacturing bullets and refurbishing illegal handguns following a police raid on their workshop allegedly located in the home of an RCAF Colonel, officials said.
Hang Samon, 54, fled his Meanchey district home Tuesday as police arrested the three and confiscated 70 makeshift bullets and four handguns, including K-49 and K-59 model weapons, according to Song Ly, municipal minor crime police chief.
Hang Samon’s son An Darith, 34, was arrested at the scene in Stung Meanchey commune along with Sim Pov and Nuch Sovan, both 24, Song Ly said, adding that court officials were currently drawing up a warrant for Hang Samon’s arrest.
“We investigated this workshop inside the colonel’s house for many days,” Song Ly said.
“The three of them confessed they made the weapons and ammunition for customers, and said one bullet cost $0.60 and the fee for the guns was $30 to $50,” Song Ly said.
Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun said the three were charged under the 1992 law on unlawful possession of weapons and wearing military uniforms.
Both the manufacture of weapons and their illegal use carry prison terms of one to five years.
Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth said that the seizure of the bullets could provide clues for investigators.
“We seized homemade ammunition and it can help solve crimes—like [the case of] singer Pov Panhapich, who was shot with homemade bullets,” he said.
“So it sheds light on our investigation,” he added.
