Young Man Arrested for Stealing Cattle Due to Inability to Pay Phone Installments

A 18-year-old man in Cambodia's Kampong Speu province was arrested for attempting to sell a stolen cow. He reportedly resorted to theft due to his inability to continue making installment payments for his mobile phone. The incident occurred around 4:50 PM on September 19, 2026, in Kanluy Romeas village, Peth Mony commune, Kong Pisey district. The suspect, identified as Jon Chan Hav, 18, unemployed, residing in the same village, stole a young female cow belonging to Hul Koma, 45, also a resident of the same village. According to the police, the suspect stole the cow from a rice field west of the village around 4:30 PM on the same day. He then contacted Sim Zaa, 32, a Khmer-Islam butcher from Kukrous village, Peth Mony commune, to sell the cow for 1,500,000 riels (approximately $375 USD). He reportedly claimed the cow belonged to his father and was being sold to pay for school fees. Sim Zaa then hired a pickup truck driver, Chey Sokheoun, 45, from Tuol M'am village, Peth Mony commune, to transport the cow from the scene, with payment to be settled later. However, as the suspect was loading the cow onto the truck, the owner, Hul Koma, arrived and apprehended the suspect, handing him over to the authorities. During questioning by the police, the suspect confessed to stealing the cow. He stated that he resorted to this act because he was unable to continue paying the $200 installment for his mobile phone and decided to steal a cow to sell. The stolen cow has been returned to its owner. The suspect is currently being processed by the Kong Pisey district police and will be sent to the Kampong Speu Provincial Police for further legal proceedings.