Military Police officers under investigation for detaining man without a warrant


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Two Military Police officers Two are under investigation for allegedly detaining and confining a man at the Stung Streng Military Police Headquarters without a court warrant on April 3.

The accused are Provincial Military Police Commander Brigadier General Eang Vandy and his deputy Provincial Military Police Deputy Commander Colonel Phuy Khai.

National Military Police spokesman Brigadier General Eng Hy said yesterday that “the military police are continuing their investigation into the case of the two military police officers”.

Provincial military police led by the provincial court’s deputy prosecutor Chea Sopheak raided an illegal mining site in Stung Treng province’s Thalaborivat district, Anlong Chrey commune on March 28.

Br Gen Hy said that according to Sopheak, the illegal mining site was run by a local company managed by Chea Vuthy. 

He said that during that military operation, the provincial military police arrested Vuthy and brought him to the provincial military police headquarters for questioning.

He stated that the deputy prosecutor also ordered the provincial military police to prepare Vuthy’s case and send it to the court.

Chea Vuthy, 40, resident from Thalaborivat commune confirmed yesterday that he was a motorcycle taxi driver, not the owner of a mining company as accused.

Vuthy said that he was hired by a businessman from the provincial mine and energy department to bring a penalty letter about illegal mining to the Stung Treng Provincial Military Police for inspection.

“When I arrived and took the penalty letter for a meeting with General Eang Vandy and Colonel Khai in their room, they intimidated and threatened me and had already prepared a confession,” Vuthy said.

“After questioning, they arrested me and seized my motorbike, my phone and 100,000 Riels ($25) and temporarily detained me for a day and overnight at the provincial military police headquarter,” he said.

“Next day, they handcuffed me and sent me to the provincial court for questioning. I was later released by the court after they couldn’t find me guilty,” he said, adding that “But the court did not return my motorbike, mobile phone and money until now.”

Br Gen Hy said that the National Military Police’s investigating team recently met with both Br Gen Eang Vandy and Col Phuy Khai and questioned them over Chea Vuthy’s allegations.

He added that they both denied it.





(END)

 

 


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