A senior Funcinpec provincial police official is facing charges of masterminding an April 16 grenade attack that left two dead and 26 injured in a crowded Kampot town gaming hall.
Officials arrested Major Suy Sok, penal police chief of Kampot, in his office, said Kun Sam Oeun, director of the Ministry of the Interior’s Anti-Terrorism Department. Seven guns and one grenade were confiscated at the time of the arrest, Kun Sam Oeun said.
The arrest was the result of a four-month investigation by the Ministry of the Interior, Kun Sam Oeun said. Two other men, Long Mean, 41, and Meas Chork, 53, also were arrested Tuesday.
Authorities say they suspect the men of having participated in the attack under orders from Suy Sok.
After obtaining confessions from the three men, anti-terrorism department officials arrested two more suspects, Kun Sam Ouen said, adding that the Ministry of the Interior is still looking for two more suspects.
“These are not only grenade attackers, but also robbers and kidnappers,” said Kum Sam Oeun, who believes that Suy Sok led a separate grenade attack on the same gaming hall in 1997, killing six and injuring 30.
“If they did kill as many as eight people and injure more than 60,” Kum Sam Oeun said, “by law they will be punished with 15 to 30 years in jail.”
Both attacks targeted crowds of people playing Yuki, a game of chance. Kum Sam Oeun said April’s attack was sparked by a dispute over bribes given to provincial police officials by gambling stall owners.
Uk Kimsith, chief prosecutor of Kampot Province, would not reveal the charges against the five suspects, but said he did issue warrants for their arrest.
Governor Ly Sou and Kampot Deputy Police Chief Sun Sarin said they were not involved in the investigation and were not familiar with the evidence. Court officials could not be reached to provide a trial schedule.
