The neighbor of a Sam Rainsy Party member gunned down in Tuol Bey village last month was arrested last week in connection with the murder, according to Kong Sokhun, Kompong Cham’s police chief. Sou Tean, 34, was arrested Feb 25 by provincial police empowered by a warrant from the court.
He remains in detention, but has not yet been charged.
Chim Chhuon and his 7-year-old daughter, who lived next to Sou Tean, were shot to death Feb 10 as they slept in a rice field, guarding their water pump.
Chim Chhuon’s wife was wounded in the attack. Sam Rainsy Party officials initially called the shooting an assassination, saying Chim Chhuon, who was a local activist, was killed for his political activities. But neighbors, police and local officials said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over who had the right to pump water from a nearby canal.
Sou Tean told The Cambodia Daily that he was not involved in the killing of Chim Chhuon, though he acknowledged arguing with him over water rights two years ago.
