Lieutenant colonel Duong Nakry, who allegedly fired five gunshots at a car last week in Phnom Penh was sent to the court. FN
A high-ranking policeman at the Ministry of Interior’s criminal investigation department was charged on Saturday with attempted murder and placed in pre-trial detention after he allegedly fired five gunshots at a car last week in Phnom Penh.
Lieutenant colonel Duong Nakry, the deputy director of the Ministry of Interior’s criminal investigation department, allegedly pulled out his handgun in a drunken state in the early hours of Thursday morning and shot five rounds into the car of a married couple in Chbar Ampov district’s Chbar Ampov I commune.
National Police chief Neth Savoeun has also ordered internal disciplinary action against Nakry, who has since, as instructed, apologised to the victims and paid the couple an undisclosed amount of civil compensation.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly Sophana said: “The prosecutor ruled to launch an investigation on charges of attempted murder and unauthorised use of a weapon.”
On Saturday afternoon, the court sent Nakry to be detained at Phnom Penh's Police Judiciaire prison pending legal procedures, after an arrest warrant was issued by Investigating Judge Pich Vicheathor.
If convicted of attempted murder, according to articles 27 and 199 of the Criminal Code, Nakry faces a prison sentence of between 10 and 15 years.
The offence of unauthorised use of a weapon, as specified under Article 20 of the Law on the Control of Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives, carries a sentence of six months to two years in prison and a fine of 500,000 to two million riel ($125 to $500).
Soeung Sen Karuna, the spokesman for human rights group Adhoc, said if it had not been for the reaction on social media, Nakry could have avoided rightful punishment, because civil compensation had been paid to the victims, and that often led to an end to cases involving powerful officials.
Sen Karuna said there was an ongoing issue of impunity that happens continuously in Cambodian society.
He said when problems occur, there is often no action taken until there are widespread criticism and senior leadership intervenes.
“We should not indulge in a culture of waiting for orders from senior leadership. We should have legal mechanisms in place because if we don't, criticism will continue that law enforcement acts with impunity."
“We should have clear reform of the way law enforcement officials are treated, so such acts are not repeated. Sometimes, if events are not leaked, there are cover-ups, and acts go unpunished,” Sen Karuna claimed.
He stressed that as a representative of a civil society organisation, he would keep a close eye on the relevant authorities' next moves, especially the court, to make sure Nakry is really punished according to the law.
However, National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun told The Post on Sunday that while civil society organisations and citizens had the right to their opinions, authorities had proceeded in the correct manner.
“Prior to him being put in prison, he was stripped of his police uniform and stripes, then we sent him to court to face the law. Whether there is a public outcry or not, we still do the same thing,” he stressed.
