TV Executive Accused of Pulling Gun on Colleague

The news editor of the country’s only 24-hour news television channel will be questioned in court today after allegedly pointing a gun at a colleague, according to the complainant’s lawyer.

Huy Vannak, who heads the editorial team at the Cambodian News Channel (CNC), is accused of pulling a pistol on and making a death threat against Ros Dina, the planning and assignment editor at CTN and MyTV.

All three television channels are under the umbrella of the Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation, which is owned by local conglomerate the Royal Group.

Kea Eav, the lawyer for Mr. Dina, said the Phnom Penh Municipal Court planned to question Mr. Vannak today over his client’s complaint.

“It is a small internal dispute in which Huy Vannak has pointed a gun at Mr. Ros Dina,” he said.

Mr. Eav said he could not elaborate on when or where the incident occurred.

Mr. Dina said he was summoned to court on Monday by deputy prosecutor Keo Socheat after filing a complaint against Mr. Vannak. He declined to provide further information about the alleged incident and referred questions to his lawyer.

Mr. Socheat said he dealt with many cases and could not remember the details of this particular case.

Ramady Moun, the general manager of CNC television, said Tuesday he was unaware of the pending court case but confirmed the company was investigating the allegations.

“I was informed about the incident but I don’t know the details,” he said.

“There is an internal investigation with human resources. It’s an internal thing so it’s under human resources.”

Mr. Moun said that both Mr. Dina and Mr. Vannak were still working for the company.

When asked whether CNC planned to take any action against Mr. Vannak, he replied: “It is a matter of process. I leave it to the person in charge [of the internal investigation].”

Mr. Vannak has previously worked as a reporter for Radio Free Asia and as a public affairs officer at the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

Royal Group chairman Kith Meng, who owns the Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation, declined to comment. Mr. Vannak could not be reached.

(Additional reporting by Kuch Naren)

narim@cambodiadaily.com, robertson@cambodiadaily.com

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