A Khmer-language newspaper said Thursday that naval police based in Kandal province were to blame for the Monday shooting of a newspaper publisher. But investigators in Phnom Penh denied they had any leads.
Chakraval (Universe) reported that Thong Uy Pang’s Koh Santepheap (Island of Peace) newspaper had written an article exposing corruption among naval police in Kandal province. An unnamed police source told Chakraval that police had arranged Monday’s assassination attempt in retaliation for the article.
Ek Kreth, municipal judicial police chief, denied Chakraval’s report and said the case is still being investigated. As yet, he said, there are no suspects.
Koh Santepheap publisher Thong Uy Pang and his bodyguard, Yim Chhoeun, were both shot Monday at a pagoda shortly after receiving a threatening phone call. The shooter, after being wounded by return fire from another bodyguard, escaped with an accomplice.
Police said they have been checking hospitals and clinics for someone with a gunshot wound.
