Phnom Penh police said yesterday they were searching for an Interior Ministry police official suspected in the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old deliveryman outside a bar in Russei Keo district.
Chhin Molika is suspected of shooting Horn Seng, who died of a gunshot wound to the temple July 3 in Tuol Sangke commune, said municipal police chief Touch Naruth, adding that Mr Molika was in his 30s.
Mr Molika “is a police official at the Ministry of Interior,” Mr Naruth said, declining to reveal Mr Molika’s rank and title or to discuss the case.
Mr Seng was delivering an order of food by motorcycle at around 6:30 pm when the suspect drove alongside him and shot him, police said. The shooter was not a customer at the restaurant where the victim worked and sped off following the shooting, swerving wildly, police said.
Chuon Naren, Phnom Penh penal police chief, said district police recently sought an arrest warrant for Mr Molika but had not received it. He said police will arrest Mr Molika even if the warrant is not ready.
“We are searching to arrest him. We will arrest him when we see him because it is a flagrant crime,” he said, adding that he also did not know Mr Molika’s rank.
Though the motive was unclear, alcohol is believed to have played a role, he said.
“It is not the personal dispute…. It looks like the act of a gangster,” he said.
National Police spokesman Kirth Chantharith declined to comment as he was busy in a meeting.
Deputy Phnom Penh prosecutor Hieng Sopheak said yesterday that warrant had not been issued but that he was not directly working on the issue and could not comment.
