Two police officials – one the deputy police chief of Kandal’s Takhmao town and the son of Provincial Police Chief Eav Chamroeun – are the subject of a complaint filed with the Ministry of Interior by three people who allege they might have colluded to prevent the three from filing a complaint after they fell victims of a crime.

Complainants Kao Mana, 25; Say Sina, 45; and Sok Chea, 77, alleged that on October 15, 2016, they were beaten by a group of people, causing serious injuries. The incident, which purportedly happened at Phsar Takhmao Chas in Takhmao, was a result of a verbal conflict with the suspects, the complaint says.

However, the three claim they were prevented from filing a complaint at the Takhmao town police station after the incident by Long Parinha, a police officer who is allegedly a friend of the perpetrators, and who arrived at the station with the perpetrators when the victims were trying to file the complaint.

The complainants allege Parinha may have colluded with Takhmao Deputy Police Chief Chamroeun Panha to fabricate records to say the alleged perpetrators were actually the victims.