A district official in Banteay Meanchey province was charged with manslaughter Sunday after his neighbor died when he touched an electric fence surrounding the official’s property, police said.
Sen Kun, 46, who worked at the Thma Puok district office, was arrested on Friday evening following the discovery of the body of Saing Mao, 36, at about 7 a.m., according to deputy district police chief Chhuot Tha.
Mr. Tha said the body had been dragged about 15 meters away from an electric fence that Mr. Kun had recently installed around his house in Komrou commune.
“Police inspected the body and found some burns on both thighs, his back and his hands,” he said. “We concluded that the victim died from an electric shock.”
Mr. Tha said Mr. Kun told police that he had installed the electric fence to keep thieves away from his ducks and chickens. He said Saing Mao was a known thief, and that Mr. Kun had previously reprimanded him for stealing his poultry.
Phoeung Mann Soeng, chief of the provincial police’s serious crimes bureau, said the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court charged Mr. Kun and sent him to the provincial prison to await trial.
