Garage owner arrested on murder allegations

A suspect was arrested on Saturday and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday over his alleged involvement in the murder of a third-year law student at the end of April in Phnom Penh, according to local police officials.

The suspect, Hak Vuthy Vuthy, also known as Chamroeun, is a 43-year-old lathe mechanic in Tuol Kork district, where the alleged murder occurred, said Colonel Hun Sothy, chief of Toul Kork District Police.

Vuthy Vuthy was brought in for questioning on May 2 along with four other suspects, who have since been released and were found to be uninvolved in the incident.

On April 30, Nob Bunthoeun, 27, a student at the Khmer New Generation Institute, was found dead with his throat slit in a rented room in Tuol Kork district’s Teuk La’ak III commune.

Suicide was ruled out as a cause of death following medical and police investigations.

“After questioning, it was discovered that Vuthy Vuthy was linked to the victim’s murder, which occurred close to [the suspect’s] garage,” Sothy added.

Ly Sophana, spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

“We are still working on this case,” said Kong Sokheng, a police officer in Daun Penh district. Vuthy Vuthy could not be reached for comment.