General articles are free for 24 hours after publish.
Officer Charged in Fatal Accident in Battambang
A police officer in Battambang province, Cambodia, has been charged with reckless driving causing death and injury after his vehicle crashed into a private residence, resulting in one fatality and five serious injuries. While drunk driving is suspected, delays in alcohol testing during the initial investigation are being scrutinized.
In Battambang province, western Cambodia, a police officer has been charged and detained with reckless driving causing death and injury after his vehicle crashed into a private residence, resulting in casualties. On September 23, 2026, the investigating judge of the Battambang Provincial Court issued an order to detain the suspect, Suon Thoun, 27, a police officer at the Mean Chey Commune Police Post, Samlout District, who resides in Prey Rumchek Village, Tasanh Commune, Samlout District, Battambang Province. The incident occurred on the night of September 18, 2026, in Samlout District. The prosecutor has charged the suspect with "reckless, negligent, or failure to comply with duties required by law, causing injury to others and causing the death of others." This traffic accident took place in Kamchat Village, Mean Chey Commune, Samlout District. According to previous reports, local residents have claimed that the suspect may have been driving under the influence of alcohol before causing the accident. However, the prosecutor's charges do not specify drunk driving or any offenses related to alcohol. Mr. Men Borey, acting chief of the traffic office at the Battambang Provincial Police Commissioner, stated that the accident occurred on the night of September 18, but the relevant department of the Samlout District Police Inspectorate only reported it to the specialized office on the morning of September 19. He confirmed that at the scene, villagers filmed the police officer's actions, and based on the observed situation, it was suspected that the perpetrator might have been driving under the influence of alcohol. However, immediately after the accident, the specialized officers from the Samlout District Police Inspectorate did not conduct an alcohol test on the perpetrator. Due to the absence of alcohol test results in the investigation report, the prosecutor's charges are based on that report and do not include drunk driving as a charge. Mr. Men Borey described the failure to immediately test for alcohol after the accident as a shortcoming of the specialized officers who handled the procedures at the scene. In addition to the charges, it was also confirmed that the suspect did not possess a driver's license at the time of the incident. Source: CEN Cambodia
Original source
CEN Cambodia