A husband accused of shooting his movie star wife to death Sunday may be hiding in the compound housing Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit in Kandal province, police say.
“We do not have much hope of arresting him, because he is hiding at the premier’s bodyguard compound,” a Daun Penh police official, who did not want his name used, said Tuesday.
Police want to question Vong Chandavy, 43, in connection with the death of his wife, Tim Angkeara, 39. She appeared in a number of Cambodian films, including last year’s hit “Child of the Giant Snake,” in which she portrayed the rich man’s wife.
Ouch Thorn, deputy police chief of Daun Penh district, said the incident occurred at Tim Angkeara’s Daun Penh home around midnight Sunday. She was shot once in the head with a K-59 handgun and died instantly, police said.
The chief said a neighbor, Tieng Sina, 39, suffered a serious injury to his neck in the incident.
Police say that Vong Chandavy, a major with the RCAF bodyguard unit and guitarist in the RCAF band based in Tuol Krasaing, Kandal province, suspected his wife was having an affair and attacked her out of jealousy.
The couple had been embroiled in marital disputes for some months and had discussed obtaining a divorce, police said.
Ouch Thorn said it is possible Vong Chandavy has already been arrested by his commanding officer. Members of the bodyguard unit could not be reached for comment.
Ouch Thorn filed documents with the court Tuesday seeking an arrest warrant. Nget Sarath, deputy prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said the warrant would be issued as soon as the documents were in hand—perhaps as early as this morning.
If convicted, Vong Chandavy could face between 10 and 20 years in prison. The couple had three sons and one daughter, aged between 3 and 15 years old.