Cambodia: 5 Officers Dead in Domestic Violence Crackdown, Interior Minister Mourns

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Sokha, on the evening of August 5, 2026, expressed his profound sorrow over the deaths of five security forces in a tragic incident. On his social media, he revealed that the incident occurred during an operation to suppress domestic violence in O’Saom commune, Vaing Veing district, Pursat province. According to initial reports from provincial authorities, the incident began when the perpetrator used drugs and committed domestic violence. Security forces were immediately dispatched after receiving information from the perpetrator's wife. However, during the intervention, the perpetrator detonated a grenade, leading to the tragic outcome. The incident resulted in the deaths of five national police officers and civil guards: Police Chief Sam Ra, Post Officer So Sovannarith, Civil Guards Chorn Prim, Sok Ann, and Chinda. The perpetrator, Eam Dom, also died, and Civil Guard Vey Voeun was seriously injured. Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha instructed the General Commissariat of National Police, the provincial administration, and the Pursat Provincial Police Commissioner to pay the utmost attention to organizing the funerals for the national police officers and civil guards. He also urged them to continue investigating drug distributors in the area and the source of the grenades used by the perpetrator. On behalf of the Ministry of Interior and himself, the Deputy Prime Minister extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. He emphasized that the sacrifice of our national police and civil guards, and the tragedy of this case, serve as a stark reminder that drugs are murderers and our common enemy. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer