Authorities in Kompong Thom province are searching for a prisoner who escaped police after feigning illness and being taken to the hospital on Monday, police said.
“The suspect pretended to be sick and our prison guards sent him to the provincial hospital for treatment but he escaped when the guards were acting carelessly,” said Keo Sophal, deputy provincial police chief.
“Now, our police are investigating to find and arrest him.” Som Veasna, about 35, was in Kompong Thom Provincial Prison awaiting trial after being arrested April 5 in Baray district and charged with drug trafficking the next day.
According to Mr. Sophal, Mr. Veasna had claimed to be a Royal Cambodian Armed Forces paratrooper stationed in Banteay Meanchey province at the time of his arrest.
“The prisoner was good at speaking and persuading, he always complained about being sick, but he was only tricking people,” he said.
Asked about how the prisoner escaped, provincial prison director Phean Chhorvoan denied to give details and said investigations were ongoing.
“I don’t know yet, we are still investigating.”
