Two young men were detained and questioned at the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court this week on charges related to the stabbing of the chief monk at Koh Thkov Pagoda.
Pol Vuthy, Kampong Chhnang deputy police chief, said suspect Snguon Channa, 18, and another underage suspect, 16, were arrested on Sunday, a week after Channa allegedly used a file to stab chief monk Yin Nem, 84, who is also the younger suspect’s grandfather. Nem has since been released from the hospital.
Channa, who allegedly committed the stabbing during a botched robbery of the pagoda, reportedly claimed his accomplice planned the heist, an accusation the teen denied.
“Channa said that during the robbery, he was scared and swung his right arm holding the file at the monk chief unintentionally,” Vuthy said. He added the court decided to hold Channa, while the other suspect was released on bail.
Chhuon Sivin, spokesman of provincial judges board, said that though the minor was out on bail, he was not cleared of wrongdoing. The pair face a prison sentence up of five to 10 years if found guilty of theft with aggravating circumstances.
