The son of a wealthy property developer was charged Wednesday by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after assaulting the son of logging tycoon Try Pheap in a tattoo parlor on Monday night, according to police.
Duong Udomchorvin, 27, the son of Duong Ngieb—a brigadier general at the Interior Ministry’s immigration department—was arrested by military police after he slapped Try Daluch, 21, multiple times at the RSD Tattoo parlor on Sihanouk Boulevard and then threatened to shoot him.
Khan Daravuth, an officer at the Phnom Penh municipal military police’s investigations and justice department, said Wednesday that Mr. Udomchorvin had been charged with intentional violence and threatening to use a firearm.
“He is in temporary detention,” Mr. Daravuth said. “He is at PJ [Prison], which is the same place he used to stay. He returned to his old place.”
In 2013, Mr. Udomchorvin—also known as Duong Chhay—spent six months in prison after being convicted of causing injuries, illegal weapons use and property damage over a brawl in a Phnom Penh restaurant. Mr. Udomchorvin had his original 3-1/2-year prison term reduced at the Appeal Court.
On Wednesday, Mr. Daravuth, the military police officer, said that no hearing had been scheduled in the latest case, and made light of the fact that the suspect was returning to prison almost two years to the day after he was last incarcerated.
“We have to wait until a trial is held for him,” he said. “But it is like completing the cycle [for him] to be back in prison.”
According to military police and a video posted online, Mr. Udomchorvin attacked Mr. Daluch after the victim professed not to know him.
Military police said that the suspect demanded: “Why do you look at my face? Don’t you know who I am?” shortly before beginning to slap Mr. Daluch, who remained composed throughout the attack.
The suspect then allegedly ordered his bodyguards to fetch a weapon from his Cadillac Escalade parked outside. “I’ll shoot him because he doesn’t know me,” he said, according to military police.
A representative of the Try Pheap Group confirmed Wednesday that Mr. Daluch is the son of timber magnate Try Pheap, who was once a personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen. Both Mr. Pheap and his son hold the title of oknha, which is bestowed upon businessmen who donate $100,000 or more to the state.
