District officials pay out for beating girl

Khouth Sophak Chakrya | Publication date 27 December 2017 | 07:04 ICT

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Por Sen Chey district officials Sum Sovanrith, 30, (right) and Sum Satya Punreay, 25, may still face criminal charges after their victim dropped her complaint in exchange for compensation. Photo supplied

Two Por Sen Chey district officials paid $6,500 in compensation yesterday to a woman they beat after hitting her motorbike with their car on Monday.

A CCTV video shows victim Chhe Sophal riding away from Sum Sovanrith and Sum Satya Punreay after the alleged collision and subsequent confrontation, only to be followed by the two brothers, one of whom kicks her off her motorbike.

Sophal on Monday requested legal action be taken against the pair, claiming the brothers were also drunk during the incident. Yesterday, however, she dropped charges in exchange for the payout.

Yim Sarann, the district police chief, said yesterday that despite the negotiation, the assault was a criminal matter and the suspects must still be sent to court.

“Even if the victim woman withdrew her lawsuit against them . . . our police need to send them to the court for prosecution,” Sarann said, adding that the prosecutor and judge will decide whether to charge them. A decision is expected to be made today.

Sophal said in an interview that her assailants apologised to her directly.

“I accepted the apologies from them and withdrew my lawsuit to give them the opportunity to correct themselves,” she said.