Cambodia: Man Arrested for Shooting Woman with Rubber Slingshot Over Land Dispute

In Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia, a man has been arrested for seriously injuring a woman with a rubber slingshot, reportedly due to a long-standing land dispute. The suspect, identified as Tim Tharith, 29, was sent to the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court on the 8th for legal proceedings. The incident occurred around 7:20 PM on September 3rd in Samrong village, Tajess commune, Kampong Tralach district. The victim, Lyeng Pisey, 39, was watering flowers at her roadside stall in front of her house when she was shot from a distance with a rubber slingshot, sustaining an injury to her cheek with the projectile lodged in her face. She was subsequently sent to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment. Pol Vuthy, Deputy Police Commissioner of Kampong Chhnang province, stated that following the incident, provincial police collaborated with district and commune police to conduct a thorough investigation, leading to the apprehension of the suspect, Tim Tharith, who resides in the same village as the victim. During questioning, the suspect confessed to shooting the victim with a rubber slingshot loaded with a metal pellet. He claimed the act stemmed from a prolonged dispute with the victim concerning the construction of a fence over a drainage pipe situated on their adjacent land borders. On the night of the incident, the suspect observed the victim watering flowers at her stall and seized the opportunity to fire the slingshot before fleeing the scene. Authorities confiscated evidence including a bag of metal pellets and a pair of rubber slingshot bands. The suspect stated he had already discarded the slingshot handle. This case highlights how land disputes in Cambodia can escalate to violence, particularly in rural areas where conflicts over property ownership and boundaries can lead to severe altercations between residents. The arrest and ongoing legal process are expected to shed light on the full circumstances of the case and ensure justice.