Alleged 'Son of Me 7' Charged with Assault, Faces 2-5 Years in Prison

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a youth claiming to be the 'son of Me 7' has been charged with assault by prosecutors in connection with a violent incident that went viral on social media. Chhay Hong, Deputy Prosecutor and Spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, announced on the afternoon of July 31, 2026, that an investigation into the case of a delinquent youth, who claimed to be the son of 'Me 7,' had been initiated. The suspect, identified as Rotana Pisal, a 19-year-old male, was arrested by the military police on July 28, 2026, for allegedly assaulting two victims near the Ministry of Interior in Tonle Bassac commune, Phnom Penh. The arrest followed the circulation of video clips of the incident on Facebook. The prosecutor's decision to open an investigation into the suspect for intentional assault with aggravating circumstances, under Article 218 of the Penal Code, means he faces a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years and a fine of 4 million to 10 million riels. Article 218 stipulates that intentional assault with aggravating circumstances, which includes premeditation, the use or threat of weapons, or commission by multiple individuals acting as instigators or accomplices, is punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 5 years and a fine of 4 million to 10 million riels. According to the complaint filed by one of the victims, Mon Vipa, the victim and their friends had no prior acquaintance with the suspects. On the day of the incident, while riding motorcycles after a meal, they were pursued by two motorcycles. The assailants shouted 'thief' and demanded they stop. As the victim began to stop, the assailants kicked their motorcycle. Frightened, the victim continued to ride erratically, while their friends' whereabouts were unknown. The two pursuing motorcycles continued to chase the victim's motorcycle, using sirens and with news motorbikes filming from behind. The victim eventually stopped near the Ministry of Interior for a search. Upon stopping, the assailants immediately began to beat and kick the victim, causing them to lose consciousness and convulse on the spot. The victim's friends' injuries are unknown as the victim was disoriented. However, the suspect's confession presented a different account. The suspect stated that he and two accomplices, Chhaly Mahy (approximately 18 years old, occupation unknown) and Sae Kimseng (approximately 17 years old, student at Indradevi School), were initially chatting at the Independence Monument. Around 2 AM on July 26, 2026, while riding back from the Independence Monument towards Wat Botum, they saw police pursuing another group of youths with sirens blaring. Upon returning to the Independence Monument intersection, their motorcycle was bumped by another. The suspect and his accomplices then chased the other motorcycle, shouting for it to stop, but they did not. Near the Ministry of Interior, the suspect's motorcycle bumped the victim's, causing it to fall onto the roadside curb. The suspect then stopped, approached the victim, slapped them once, and kicked them in the face, causing them to fall and convulse. Journalists arrived at the scene, and the suspect was asked to help transport the victim to the hospital, but the victim's companion said it was fine and offered to take them home. They then separated. The suspect claimed he saw news reports live-streaming the incident around 4 AM that morning and subsequently went to the police station to clarify. After the live stream, he negotiated with the victim, who demanded $15 for emotional distress. The suspect offered 50,000 riels (approximately $12.5) for medical expenses, which the victim accepted. Despite the discrepancies between the suspect's confession and the victim's complaint, the publicly shared video clips of the assault serve as undeniable evidence of the suspect's criminal involvement, leading to his arrest and the initiation of legal proceedings. The case has been forwarded to an investigating judge for a decision on provisional detention while awaiting trial. Information source: Koh Santepheap Khmer