More Lessons from the Police Blotter

Why is that, according to the Phnom Penh Post, almost every violent encounter ends with someone being “axed” or “chopped?” If I had never been to Cambodia, I would picture it as a country full of maniacal lumberjacks.

Anyway, some of this week”s lessons are: (1) Don”t try to kill yourself with insecticide, it hardly ever works, (2) don”t get into any arguments while dancing or drinking, and (3) never underestimate a Khmer”s ability to become violent over a ridiculously small amount of money.

FEBRUARY 25: Chai Phen, 19, was sent to a provincial hospital for treatment after being stabbed three times with a knife while arguing with her husband, Seng Chek, 19, in Prey Thnang commune, Kampot province. Police said Chek later attempted suicide with insecticide. Police said the couple, who had married two weeks earlier, had been having a jealous argument.

FEBRUARY 27: Sem Theavy, 24, was attacked with heavy knives as he arrived home at 10:15pm in Trach Toal village, Kandal province. A witness said five people chopped Theavy many times then escaped on two motorbikes. The witness said one of the assailants, identified as Keo Sovannarith, had argued with Theavy at a drinking shop early in the evening.

FEBRUARY 28: Police examined the body of a motorbike taxi driver, Phay Sophoeun, 22, who was axed to death in a robbery the previous night in Mittapheap district, Sihanoukville. A witness told police that Sophoeun had been seen carrying a woman from a bar before the murder. Police are looking for the woman as she was suspected of involvement in the murder.

FEBRUARY 28: A poor farmer, Long Kun, 74, was murdered at home at 9pm while his wife was watching TV at a neighbor”s house in Chan Loang village, Siem Reap province. Police said Kun died from head injuries after being struck with a hammer by someone who left a letter saying, “I have been attempting to kill you and your wife since a long time ago. I have paid you back with a five-year revenge.”

FEBRUARY 28: Police are looking for Hour Heng, 37, who escaped after killing a neighbor, Touch Tan, 40, at 5:10pm in Tuol Sophy village, Kandal province. A bystander told police that Tan died instantly after Heng chopped him in the neck with a heavy knife. The bystander said Heng was angry after Tan”s wife slapped Heng”s wife in the face because of an argument between their children.

FEBRUARY 28: Wang Vin, 20, was stabbed to death during a family argument around 10pm in Dang Anteak village, Kampong Thom province. Police said Vin was stabbed in the throat by his drunken step-father, Chhoeun Thim, 32, who escaped. A neighbor told police that Thim was angry after Vin tried to stop an argument between him and his mother.

MARCH 1: Choup Thea, 39, a body-guard of Prime Minister”s advisor Om Yentieng, committed suicide around 10pm in Tumnop Teuk commune, Phnom Penh. A witness told police Thea shot himself in the head with a QSZ 92.9 handgun after talking on his telephone to someone. Police said Thea had been scheduled to marry soon.

MARCH 2: Lep Keo, 36, was sent to a provincial hospital for treatment for attempted suicide at 2:30pm after killing his wife, Laun Man, 30, in Chrey Pi village, Battambang province. Police said Keo cut his neck with a knife after he axed Man in the head and cut her throat with a knife during a jealous argument.

MARCH 2: Thorng Routha, 42, a construction manager, was knifed and severely injured during an argument at 1:30pm in Damnak Trayoeng village, Dangkor district, Phnom Penh. Police said Routha was chopped in the head by his three workers, who were angry after he refused to pay them. Police arrested the three workers and filed a complaint to send them to court.

MARCH 3: Police arrested Chea Sothea, 25, who injured his wife, Ken Sinarth, 22, two days earlier in Angkor Svay village, Svay Reang province. Police said Sinarth, who was pregnant, was sent to a provincial hospital after Sothea knocked her down while arguing over 100 riel. Sinarth said Sothea gave her 500 riel to buy a 100-riel ice-cream, but she returned only 300 riel because she took 100 riel and bought an ice-cream for her younger brother as well.

MARCH 4: Police are looking for Sok Kinal, 33, who was suspected of killing a neighbor, Prich Veasna, 34, at 10:30pm in Prek Treng village, Kandal province. Police said Kinal killed Veasna with a stick while they walked home after arguing at a drinking session earlier in the evening.

MARCH 4: Chhay Nouch, 40, a soldier at a provincial military unit, was found hanging from a mango tree at 5:30am in Kauk Chak village, Siem Reap province. Police said Nouch hanged himself with a belt the previous night after he was fired from Angkor Borei Hotel where he worked part time as a guard.

MARCH 5: Police are looking for Arth Kosal and his friends after they attacked Chhin Pheap, 33, with a sword during a nighttime dancing argument in Sambou Meas commune, Kandal province. Police said Arth chopped Pheap in the head then ran away with his friends. Pheap was sent to Calmette Hospital.

MARCH 6: Police found the body of a 12-year-old girl, Vorn Sok Eng, in a forest after she went missing two days earlier in Chhouk village, Kampong Cham province. Police said Sok Eng was murdered by someone who raped her while she was collecting firewood. Police said the killer could be a neighbor because he destroyed her eyes to keep her silent.