Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) commander-in-chief General Vong Pisen has suspended a brigadier general for allegedly assaulting a resident of Prek village in Stung Treng province’s Stung Treng town.

A decision dated November 25 and seen by The Post on December 1 said Sok Rithy, the Military Police commander in Sesan district, was suspended so he could be sent to court for legal action.

“The cabinet chief and the Chief of Staff of the National Military Police and relevant units are responsible for the implementation of the decision,” it said.

National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said the RCAF had always taken action against officials who had committed offences. He said Rithy used violence on a villager and seriously injured him.

“The violence was not in the line duty, but rather a personal issue. I just know Rithy hit the other party. So he has to be punished,” he said.

Stung Treng provincial Military Police commander Ieng Vandy could not be reached for comment on December 1.

The Post could not reach Rithy for clarification on the case.

But in his November 28 clarification letter seen by The Post on December 1, Rithy said he and a friend entered a porridge restaurant on November 24 in Stung Treng town’s Prek village. But the restaurant owner, Gy Bona, said it was closed. When proceeding to another restaurant nearby, Bona told them not to park in front of his restaurant.

Rithy’s friend then told Bona that if the restaurant was closed, it did not matter if the car was parked in front of his restaurant as it was a public road. A verbal altercation ensued, with the owner threatening to hit the men with a beer bottle.

Rithy said when he approached to grab the bottle, the owner tried to avoid him and fell over a rubber chair to the ground.

“I did not injure him. He fell over a chair in his shop. I already filed a lawsuit against the restaurant owner for violence against me,” Rithy said.

Bona could not be reached for comment on December 1.