A military police officer yesterday failed to appear for questioning at Banteay Meanchey Provincial court, despite allegations he had severely tortured a 17-year-old detainee suspected of distributing drugs.
Deputy prosecutor Long Chiep said he had questioned the complainant Him Chanthy, the detainee’s mother, who alleged that Thiam Pheakdey, chief of the provincial military police narcotics bureau, tortured her son after his May 19 arrest, leaving him bruised.
Mr Pheakdey, who was summoned and ordered to come to the court for questioning, denied the charges, claiming he was unable to attend because he was buried with work.
“I and my officers didn’t torture or use violence while questioning the suspected drug distributor,” he said. “I did not go to court today because I was busy.”
Ms Chanthy lodged a complaint at the provincial court on May 24. The injured teen, Sam Chan Chhaya, is being held in provincial prison.
Ms Chanthy’s complaint accused Mr Pheakdey of “intentionally using violence by kicking and beating her son for confession, to reveal the identities of big drug dealers or masterminds.”
Ms Chanthy is now seeking $7,000 in compensation from Mr Pheakdey. Assault when committed by a public official is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Ms Chanthy said she had told Mr Chiep, the deputy prosecutor, that she had seen severe bruising over much of her son’s body but had not witnessed the alleged torture.
“My kid is just a suspected drug distributor, but he suffered from extreme torture,” she said yesterday. “I want the user of torture and violence to be responsible for this crime.”
Mr Pheakdey said the teen’s injuries did not result from torture but because he had “hurt himself while trying to escape from military police officers.”
Soum Chankea, provincial investigator for the human rights group Adhoc, said the teenager’s injuries and bruises indicated he had been severely tortured, possibly with the use of sharp objects.
