One Village, One Week, Two Murders: Sorcery, Mental Health Issues Raised

[geovalin]

Two separate alleged murders happened within three days amid the New Year holiday in Siem Reap’s Prasat Trav village, involving a sorcerer killing and a domestic attack by a man said to have mental illness. Two men, Pov Pao, 24, and a 15-year-old, were charged Monday night after Koy Chhoeung, 51, died from injuries he sustained from an alleged attack by the two on the night of April 15.

 

 

Siem Reap investigating judge Nou Veasna charged both men with violence with aggravating circumstances, with punishment of up to five years in jail and 10 million riels ($2,500) in fines. Kok Doung commune chief Kem Ham said the two men, who are brothers in law, were neighbors of the victim, who Ham described as a kind man who worked small jobs like picking cassava and cleaning and skinning ducks and chickens for eating.

 

Ham said the men thought Chhoeung was a sorcerer, and they beat him with their hands and knees until Chhoeung was unconscious. Chhoeung was injured in his gallbladder and liver, and died two days after the attack. Killings over accusations of sorcery are not uncommon in rural Cambodia.

 

 

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