K Thom Governor’s Son Held in Crime Spree

The son of Kompong Thom provincial Governor Nam Tum has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting and the armed robbery of a gold shop last month in a Battambang market, provincial officials said Sunday. 

Tum Sokhom, 25, was arrested Friday for his alleged involvement in an April 27 crime spree that began with the shooting of a man in Siem Reap province and con­tinued with a robbery in Bat­tambang town, said So Sam An, deputy police chief of Battam­bang province.

So Sam An said Tum Sokhom was one of four men who, brandishing AK-47 rifles and K-54 handguns, killed a man for his car in Siem Reap, then drove to Battambang and robbed the gold store. The suspects then opened fire on police, wounding one by­stander. The four suspects es­caped with 1.5 kg gold valued at about $18,500—and some cash, he said.

Tum Sokhom fled his house in Battambang town following the robbery and was arrested when he returned Friday, So Sam An said. Another suspect has been arrested, and the other two are still at large, he added.

Battambang Provincial Court Director Nil Non issued Tum Sok­hom’s arrest warrant for armed robbery. He declined to comment on the case Sunday.

Governor Nam Tum told re­porters he will let the court system judge his son, who evaded authorities for more than three weeks.

“I am happy that police imprisoned my son, so now I don’t have to worry about finding him anymore,” Nam Tum said by telephone Sunday.

“I don’t interfere with police. I will let the law punish him,” Nam Tum said. He said his son suffers from a mental problem stemming from a severe beating he received at age of 15 in a fight with other youngsters in Siem Reap.

Both So Sam An and Nam Tum said Tum Sokhom was not the shooter in the man’s killing, nor in the shooting of a young girl who was injured when the robbers and police exchanged fire in Battambang.

 

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