Two police officers remained in custody Monday in connection with the death of a Kandal province man suspected of illegal fishing.
Takeo Police Chief Nou Sangwa said police discovered about 20 fishermen using batteries to electrocute fish at about midnight on June 12 in Prey Kabbas district, Takeo province.
The fishermen were from Koh Thom district in Kandal province, the chief said. One of the men, Thon Ran, 24, was shot, perhaps accidentally, as police attempted to arrest the fishermen. He died the next day.
Nou Sangwa would not identify the two officers, but said they would be detained pending a full investigation “into whether the police on duty accidentally shot the fisherman.”
In April, lawmakers reported that fishermen were using a variety of illegal means to harvest fish, including using illegal equipment and fishing in prohibited areas.
The illegal activities increased after 500 provincial fisheries officials were summoned to Phnom Penh for training on new laws, regulations and community fishing management.
The officials returned to work in late May and are working with military police to enforce a ban on commercial fishing during the spawning season. The ban started this month and will last through the end of September.
