A man was charged with premeditated murder on Saturday after being accused of hacking to death a commune police chief who had received complaints from the assailant’s abused wife, police said.
Seng Sokem, 45, the police chief of Veal Mlou commune in Ponhea Krek district, was attacked when Neat Nak, 53, pounced on him with a machete as he was driving a motorbike to shut down an illegal gambling ring in Tbong Khmum province, deputy provincial police chief Prak Bunon said.
“The commune police chief had his path blocked and was chopped three times with a machete in the shoulder, neck and chin while he was driving a motorbike to stop a gambling [ring],” he said
The police chief died soon after being rushed to the provincial hospital, he added.
Mr. Nak, known as a heavy drinker, may have murdered Seng Sokem in retaliation after the police chief had chastised him over his abusive behavior toward his wife, Mr. Bunon said.
“The murder occurred after the suspect had been drunk every day, and he always used violence against his wife. The wife always came to the commune police station and asked the police to educate her husband because she was beaten when he was drunk,” he said.
“I think that the murder probably occurred because of revenge, as the suspect had been angry at the commune police chief for a long time,” he added.
Provincial court prosecutor Heang Sopheak said Mr. Nak was charged on Saturday and had been sent to the provincial prison.
