Police Say Suspect Committed Suicide While in Custody

A suspected motorbike thief committed suicide while in police custody in Kompong Cham province Friday, police said Sunday.

Yav Yang, 38, was arrested last week with his accomplice Mom Sitha, 45, after the pair allegedly donned fake military uniforms and stole a motorbike in Prey Chhor district, said San Sophea, provincial serious crimes bureau chief.

“We sent the suspects to the provincial court and then the court charged them with aggravated theft and decided to send them to pretrial detention,” Mr. Sophea said.

“However, at 5 p.m. we decided to bring them back to detention at the provincial police station to await transfer to the provincial prison in the morning,” he added.

Mr. Sophea said the two suspects were put into different cells. At about 8 p.m., a police officer checked in on Yav Yang and discovered the suspect had used his own pants to hang himself from the cell’s bunk bed.

“We respected his human right to keep his clothes during detention because he committed a minor crime,” he said.

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