Police said Tuesday they are investigating a wealthy businessman after he careened into and seriously injured a family of three in a hit-and-run in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district on Sunday.
Yem Kosal, who carries the once-prestigious honorific of okhna, ran over Ny Sath, 49, breaking both his legs, as well as his wife, Tep Lyza, 41, who also suffered injuries to her legs, and their 19-year-old daughter, Sath Nita, whose wrist was broken.
“Commune police reported this case [to the district police] and the issue is under investigation, but police have not arrested the suspect yet,” said Penh Thmei commune police chief Keo Santhouk.
Mr. Santhouk said Mr. Kosal was driving a Range Rover in the area on Sunday when he allegedly drove over the entire family. He added that Mr. Kosal had deliberately mowed down the family because they allegedly owed him money.
Speaking from a Phnom Penh hospital on Tuesday, Mr. Sath said he and Mr. Kosal had entered into an argument in the street outside his house on Sunday over the money. After the argument, Mr. Sath said Mr. Kosal threatened to shoot his family and drove away.
“We know each other, but I am not sure why Mr. Kosal drove to my house and threatened to shoot my family dead,” Mr. Sath said.
About 20 minutes after leaving, Mr. Kosal returned in his car and “stepped on the accelerator quickly to kill my family,” Mr. Sath said, adding that the suspect also crashed into a nearby car as he made his escape.
Sen Sok district police chief Mok Hong said an initial investigation found that the victim owed Mr. Kosal about $2,500.
“The suspect drove into the victims and hit them on the street and kept on running,” Mr. Hong said. “We are investigating to arrest the suspect, but we don’t know where he is.”
