A Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) soldier Sunday shot dead a relative after a family dispute following a celebration for the traditional Chinese Hungry Ghost festival, police said, while another soldier sprayed a restaurant in Preah Vihear province with AK-47 fire on Saturday, injuring one bystander.
Eab Sokmeng, 36, shot his brother-in-law, Taing Ngy, 28, at about 8:15 p.m. on Sunday in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district after the two fought over “family differences,” district police chief Mok Hong said.
“Now our police forces are working this case,” he said, adding that Mr. Ngy was shot once in the right breast and twice in the left abdomen.
A police report by Toek Thla commune authorities states that Mr. Sokmeng “shot to kill” following a verbal argument.
Mr. Sokmeng remains at large, Mr. Hong said.
In a separate incident on Saturday, an RCAF soldier who is also the son of a high-ranking military official opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle on a restaurant in Preah Vihear, critically injuring one person, according to officials.
Hing Lida, 22, son of Colonel Hing Sakkam, commander of RCAF’s Brigade 7 in Intervention Division 3 at Preah Vihear temple, shot at least 10 rounds into the Chumnor Dongstung restaurant and injured the establishment’s 19-year-old chef, Duong Chet, according to the provincial police report.
The report says Mr. Lida sprayed the restaurant with rifle fire at about 12:30 a.m. after arguing with his lover, the daughter of the restaurant’s owner. Following the incident, Mr. Lida fled the scene.
RCAF Colonel Meas Yoeun said that Mr. Chet was shot once and had been in critical condition before being sent for treatment in Phnom Penh.
“The gunman is a soldier in Division 3…. It was the third time he fired that injured the chef of the restaurant. The first and second time Mr. Lida fired the gun, he only shot to threaten the owner,” he said.
Provincial police chief Sy Kiry said an investigation was under way to track down Mr. Lida.
