A Phnom Penh police officer died on Tuesday after being poisoned with an unknown substance while drinking beer with colleagues at their police station in Daun Penh district’s Chaktomuk commune, municipal penal police chief Chuon Naren said yesterday.
Tim Satya, 39, a 2nd Lieutenant from the municipal minor crime division, died on his way to Calmette Hospital at about 5:30 pm Tuesday evening, Mr Naren said, adding that four of Mr Satya’s colleagues were also rushed to hospital having also been poisoned at the same beer drinking session in the station.
“[The four] other policemen were critical last night, but Calmette Hospital saved their life and their health condition is getting better now,” Mr Naren said, adding that the officers were moved out of the emergency room yesterday.
“Now we are waiting for the result of the victims’ blood tests and [Mr Satya’s] autopsy [to find out] how the victim died and what kind of poison was mixed with the beers,” he added.
Mr Naren said 10 minor crime police officers as well as municipal minor crime police deputy chief Neang Sokna had been invited to answer questions about the incident yesterday, adding that Mr Sokna had organized the beer drinking party for the men.
A member of Mr Satya’s family, who did not want to be identified, said they suspected someone had put poison into the victims’ drinking glasses while they were eating and drinking at the station.
The family member said authorities must conduct an full autopsy to determine how he died.
Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth said he was too busy to comment on the poisoned police officers and referred questions to deputy municipal police chief Pol Phiethey.
Mr Phiethey said he was aware of the case, but declined to provide details.
“We are working on this case,” he said.
