A police officer who allegedly drove his truck into a house killing a family of four in Svay Rieng province’s Svay Chrum district last year has been summoned to appear at the provincial court on November 22 for questioning.

The officer, 35-year-old Sok Sopheak from Phsar Doeum Kor commune in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district, has been summoned before but failed to show up in court.

The incident occurred on March 10 last year in Svay Chrum district’s Tasuos commune. According to one of the victims’ brothers, Neang Rin, the officer drove his truck into his brother’s house, killing him and his wife and their two sons aged two months to two years old.

Rin said: “I have never heard from the perpetrator whether to pay compensation or not, he keeps escaping.

“Since the day of the incident, the court has summoned me to appear in court three times, and the perpetrator has never shown up.”

Sopheak was charged with reckless driving and causing injuries and death under articles 83 and 85 of the Road Traffic Law.

Rin filed a claim to be compensated $30,000 for the incident.

“I just want to meet the perpetrator. I went to court, but I’ve never seen him. I only demand compensation. The punishment will be left to the law,” he said.

He said his younger brother was a motorcycle repairman and worked at a home-built workshop in front of his house. After the incident, the owner of the truck contributed two million riel ($490) to the funeral.

Provincial court spokesman Tep Phalla told The Post on November 10 that the court will issue an arrest warrant for Sopheak if he fails to appear in court.

“As per court procedure, the first step is to summon the perpetrator, but if he is summoned and does not appear for a third time, an arrest warrant will be issued,” he said.