The son of wealthy property developer Duong Ngiep allegedly slapped, punched and threatened to kill the son of logging tycoon Try Pheap after being stared at and teased about a previous conviction for violence, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court heard yesterday.

Duong Otdom Chhorvin, also known as Duong Chhay, 27, was yesterday tried in absentia over the April 13 attack on 21-year-old Oknha Try Daluch, at a tattoo parlour in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district.

Presiding judge Svay Tonh said Chhay had been sued by Daluch and charged by the Municipal Court prosecutor with an “aggravating violent act” for the “serious” assault, which followed a verbal altercation between the pair.

“[Otdom Chhorvin] got angry with the victim for looking at his face and teasing him that he was [previously] arrested and jailed,” Tonh said.

“He then slapped the victim’s face, beat him and threatened to kill him,” he said.

Chhay – whose father, like his alleged victim, is also an oknha – was convicted in 2013 of causing injuries, illegal weapons use and property damage for taking part in a brawl at a Phnom Penh restaurant.

For that incident – which saw the victim suffer serious head injuries after being pistol whipped – Chhay served six months of a three-and-a-half-year sentence.

He was released early on the proviso that he abstain from drinking alcohol and carrying a deadly a weapon in public.

Yesterday, Otdom Chhorvin did not attend the hearing and remained at Prey Sar prison.

His defence lawyer, Nach Try, appealed for a suspended sentence, arguing his client had confessed and was remorseful.

“My client has recognised and accepted that he did wrong in this case and he is now taking corrective action and making himself into a good person,” Try said.

“Therefore, I would like to ask the judge to reduce his sentence to the lowest possible sentence; I ask the judge to punish him with a suspended sentence,” Try said.

A verdict is expected to be handed down on the afternoon of August 11.