A man stabbed and killed a commune police official in Battambang City on Friday who he suspected was having an affair with his wife, local authorities said Sunday.
Hem Hoeut, a 36-year-old rice miller from Banteay Meanchey province, stabbed Srey Sovannara with a makeshift bayonet in Battambang City’s Svay Por commune on Friday evening, according to Chet Vanny, deputy judicial police chief in Battambang province.
Srey Sovannara, 37, a deputy commune police chief in Banteay Meanchey’s Soeu commune, was driving his motorbike through a crowded public square when Mr. Hoeut approached him on foot and stabbed him through the back, piercing his lung, Mr. Vanny said.
Bleeding badly, Srey Sovannara continued to drive for another 70 meters before collapsing, Mr. Vanny said. The victim died of his wounds later that night at the provincial hospital.
Mr. Hoeut first became suspicious that his wife, Mang Kanha, was having an affair with Srey Sovannara sometime last month, Mr. Vanny said. When Mr. Hoeut followed her one day about two weeks ago, he saw her meeting with the police official.
“The suspect had known his wife had another man, but he did not have evidence and he could not control his desire to kill the victim,” Mr. Vanny said. “He did not want to do it, but…he loves his wife so much.”
During questioning by police on Friday night, Ms. Kanha admitted that she had been having an affair with the victim for three years, Mr. Vanny said, adding that Mr. Hoeut confessed to the murder and was sent to Battambang Provincial Court on Sunday.
