Thieves open fire on police, two die and one officer injured

 

 

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

One police officer was shot and wounded yesterday during a shoot-out with a suspected gang of thieves.

Two suspects were shot dead during the gun fight in Phnom Penh, said the Phnom Penh municipal police department.   

Municipal police spokesman Brigadier General San Sokseiha said that around 10:45 am yesterday police in Porsen Chey district cooperated with city police to surround and apprehend four suspected thieves, who were thought to be behind a series of vehicle thefts.

The gang was caught while attempting to steal a vehicle parked in front of an automotive service garage in Chom Chao I commune’s Kork Chambok village.


Bri Gen Sokseiha said that while police were closing in, two of the suspects who had guns started firing shots towards police in a desperate effort to escape. 

“The suspects opened fire, and shot several rounds at our police officers. Four bullets hit a police car and one officer was injured in the leg,” Bri Gen Sokseiha told Khmer Times yesterday.

“In order to defend themselves, police returned fire, causing two suspects to die at the scene while two other suspects escaped and remain at large,” he said. 

He added that police investigations uncovered a group of active thieves who had stolen several motorcycles in Phnom Penh. The gang was notorious and wanted by the police.

However, some witnesses who saw the dead suspects after the altercation said that one of two deceased suspects was wearing handcuffs.

The witnesses alleged that the suspect may have been shot in handcuffs after being arrested during the operation.

Colonel Bun Satya, Chief of the Municipal Minor Crimes Investigation Department, confirmed yesterday that the police officer who was shot and injured by the suspects is named Lieutenant Colonel Sok Samedy, Deputy Chief of Municipal Minor Crime Investigation Dept. 

Col Satya said that Lt Col Samedy was slightly injured in the right leg during the shoot out, and is recuperating at a private clinic in Phnom Penh. 

He added that the bodies of the two deceased suspects were sent to Teuk Thla Pagoda in Sen Sok, awaiting their families to take them home.

 He added that police continue to search for other suspects




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