A National Police lieutenant accused of violently beating a motorist and firing his pistol at the ground in Phnom Penh was questioned for three hours and released without charges on Sunday night.

Russey Keo district police questioned the officer, Ket Pharen, over an incident in which he allegedly confronted three men and beat one of them in the capital’s Chraing Chamreh II commune at about 8pm on Sunday.

According to Commune Chief Hak Bunthorn, both Pharen and the victim, Seoung Sophai, were drunk, and when commune police officers arrived at the scene, they found Sophai with a head injury and Pharen entering his vehicle to flee.

“Both sides were drunk, so our authorities decided to arrest them and bring them to Russey Keo district police station for interrogation,” Bunthorn said yesterday.

Russey Keo District Police Chief Tieng Chansa could not be reached yesterday. A district police officer, who requested anonymity for fear of professional repercussions, said that Pharen claimed the men had threatened him, while Sophai accused the officer of swerving into his lane and failing to stop.

The two men were released after Pharen apologised, and no charges were filed.