Police Officer Charged Over Bavet shooting

29 August 2012
The Cambodia Daily
Economy and commerce / Investment / Judiciary and courts / Special economic zones
Bavet City / Bavet City shooting / Chhouk Bundith / garment factory protests / garment factory shooting / garment factory workers / Kaoway shoe factory / Sar Chantha / Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

The Svay Rieng Provincial Court has charged a local police official with causing "unintentional injuries" during a shooting in February that left three garment factory workers injured in Bavet City, court officials said yesterday. Former Bavet City Governor Chhouk Bundith was charged with the same crime in April over his role in the incident, which saw three female workers badly injured after Mr. Bundith reportedly opened fire with a pistol during a protest at a special economic zone (SEZ). Mr. Bundith has not been detained ahead of trial. Provincial prosecutor Hing Bunchea said that the court had now charged Bavet City penal police chief Sar Chantha, but he declined to say when or why Mr. Chantha was charged. ... Mr. Chantha vehemently denied the charge yesterday, saying that although he was stationed at the Manhattan SEZ on the day of the triple shooting, he was nowhere near the scene of the crime, which took place in front of the Kaoway shoe factory.