Officials shut down a popular Chinese restaurant in Phnom Penh on Monday due to two outbreaks of violence among its patrons in recent days, police said Tuesday.
Three people have been injured in two separate incidents since Thursday at the Tay-Tay restaurant, located on Monivong Boulevard in Daun Penh district’s Boeng Raing commune, said commune police chief Nong Vandy.
Two men were injured in the first incident Thursday, when unidentified gang members pistol-whipped two customers, Nong Vandy said. On Sunday night, Men Chong, 24, was shot in the leg inside the restaurant, he said.
Srei Navy, the co-owner of Tay-Tay, appealed to Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema to reopen her business, saying she, too, was a victim. “What can I do if they come to eat at our restaurant and carry in weapons?” she asked. “Now my 60 workers have no job—it is an injustice.”
Kep Chuktema referred questions to Sok Sambath, Daun Penh district governor.
Sok Sambath said that Tay-Tay has only been temporarily closed and that it will reopen after proper investigations have been conducted.
“According to law, we need to investigate the shooting,” he said. “After we get approval from the municipal governor, we will reopen the business.”
