Police yesterday said they were widening the search for the two men responsible for the fatal shooting of tycoon businessman Ung Meng Cheu on Saturday evening.

Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for the National Police, said police had divided the investigation into a number of parts so they could focus on all aspects of the Shimmex Group chairman’s personal and business affairs.

“We will focus on everything related to tycoon Meng Cheu, including where he has stayed, who he has contacted and any land disputes or business disputes he may have been involved in,” he said. “I cannot say exactly how far [our investigation] has come … but right now, we have a lot of relevant information.”

Kheng Tito, national military police spokesman, said he thinks [Meng Cheu’s] death “may be” the result of a business dispute.

“The suspect must be arrested … we [will] not let him [remain free],” he said by text message.

Meng Cheu was gunned down outside a fruit shop on Sihanouk Boulevard. Witnesses saw two men pull up on a motorbike as Meng Cheu got out of a Lexus. Surveillance footage shows one of the men shoot the businessman six times before fleeing.

Court officials, a complainant in a case against Meng Cheu and the businessman’s lawyer have told the Post he had been involved in a number of court cases. One of them, over a land dispute in the capital’s Sen Sok district, was due to be heard December 8.

Mao Chanrith, general manager of Shimmex’s Seng Hing Heng Import Export company, yesterday appealed for the government to do all it could to solve the case.

“We have no detailed information from the police yet.… They have mentioned a business dispute. I think they have other sources. But I have never heard of this,” he said.

“I ask the government to help us find the truth. Otherwise, this case will scare away rich investors,” he said.

Meng Cheu’s body was buried at a pagoda in Kampong Speu province’s Samrong Tong district yesterday morning.