The Kandal Provincial Court is investigating a case involving the former Takhmao town police chief and three other police officers who allegedly accepted a $700 bribe to let two robbery suspects free after they had been arrested in June.

“Deputy Prosecutor Ek Sunreaksmey is in charge of the case, and it is in the legal procedure . . . The case is in the investigation process, and the deputy prosecutor has not yet [made] a decision about it,” said Tith Socheatra, spokesman for the Kandal provincial prosecutor.

On June 26, security guards at the Old Takhmao Market detained two suspects, who had allegedly stolen jewellery from a woman, according to the police report.

Sim Buth Bundith, the former Takhmao police chief and current head of the private security bureau in Kandal, and the officers who responded at the scene allegedly negotiated with the two suspects to secure their release in exchange for $700.

Buth Bundith would only say the case had been forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Unit, and declined to comment further. ACU head Om Yentieng could not be reached for comment.

Legal expert Sok Sam Oeun expressed surprise that the court seemed to be pursuing the case, saying that corruption cases involving the police seldom reach the judiciary.