Six military police officers from Tbong Khmum and Prey Veng were yesterday charged with “intentional violence” for their roles in allegedly shooting at and torturing a truck driver and his passenger who fled a checkpoint last month.

The group – arrested yesterday following a 10-day probe – was detained at Prey Veng prison following the hearing at the Prey Veng provincial court.

The three suspects from Tbong Khmum’s O’Reang-ou district are district military chief Vorn Peun and his subordinates Srun Bora and Kang Chetra, according to a letter signed by National Military Commander Sao Sokha. The accused from Prey Veng are from security office 808, including military police chief Yin Long and officers Voun Sophy and Pho Viran.

According to deputy military police commander Sin Sophanny, head of the investigation committee, the men are among 12 involved in the alleged attack on driver Nen Sida, 30, and his nephew, Thouen Neub, 20, after they failed to stop their truck at a checkpoint on March 19.

Sophanny said the suspects, who have been suspended pending the outcome, had admitted that they shot and “fought back” with the pair, who were caught in Prey Veng after a chase, but denied using excessive force.

He said others involved had been sent warning letters, including Tbong Khmum’s provincial military commander and Prey Veng provincial commander Sok Krin.

“There is no one accepting that there was beating, hands tied-up or that someone stepped on the head of [a] truck driver,” he added, though a widely circulated picture shows the purported driver hog-tied on the road.

“However, the incident was an act of cruelty.”