A security guard at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on Thursday told the Phnom Penh Municipal Court that she had compensated a local journalist she struck in July as he attempted to take photographs at the hospital.
Koeut Phally, 40, was arrested at the hospital after she used her walkie-talkie to hit Leng Vannsothea, 32, a reporter with Hang Meas TV and Nokor Thom News.
According to the complaint filed by Mr. Vannsothea, the guard had reacted to his attempts to photograph a man who had died at the hospital.
“I swung [my walkie-talkie], and the walkie-talkie hit his head. His wound had a little blood,” Ms. Phally said in court Thursday.
The court clerk then read a document signed by Mr. Vannsothea that confirmed Ms. Phally compensated him.
“I withdraw my complaint because I got compensation already,” he said in the document, which did not specify the sum.
Deputy prosecutor Kol Bon said despite the compen- sation, the court would still pursue the charge of intentional violence against Ms. Phally.
Judge Veasna said the verdict would be handed down September 30.
