The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday charged a 31-year-old man with unintentional killing after he crashed his Range Rover and killed three people in Meanchey district on Sunday.
“We have already charged the suspect [Bun Rattanak] with unintentional killing and he is now in pretrial detention at Prey Sar prison,” said municipal prosecutor Meas Chanpiseth.
Mr. Rattanak is the son of municipal finance department chief Bun Serey and is listed in the municipal administration staff book as an official in the same department.
Contacted Tuesday, the suspect’s mother, who declined to give her name, said that the accident had been caused by a front-tire blow-out.
“No one wants accidents to happen, but unfortunately for my son the car’s tire blew up and caused an accident,” she said.
She confirmed that her family had discussed compensation with Keo Chanthy, the 48-year-old husband of 42-year-old Mao Sony and father of 18-year-old Sem Pisey, who were killed when the SUV struck their motorbike.
“We will negotiate again because the amount he demanded [$60,000] is too high,” she said, adding that she had already donated 1 million riel, or about $250, to both Mr. Chanthy and the family of the other, as-yet-unnamed victim.
