Arrest in murder at Tonle Bati lake
Park plans push out vendors
AWOMAN was arrested by police yesterday evening on suspicion of murdering her friend at Takeo province’s popular Tonle Bati tourist spot a week earlier.
Chea Socheat, 23, a contractor at the provincial tourism department, was found floating in Tonle Bati lake, with multiple cuts to her throat, by local shopkeepers on July 20.
Srey Ny, 25, was one of the last people to be seen with Socheat, but police initially failed to locate the native of Bati district’s Chambak commune. However, district police chief Ngan Sary said she was identified through analysis of the victim’s phone records and eventually tracked to Kampot, where she had gone to stay with her father.
“Witnesses in Takeo also gave us some information that on the day of the incident, the suspect left Tonle Bati with blood stains on her shirt, but went to a market to buy a new one to change into,” Sary said, adding that she was finally arrested in Kampot’s Angkor Chey district with the cooperation of Kampot provincial police.
“It’s a case of robbery and murder. The victim’s necklace, bracelet, iPhone 5 and motorbike were all missing,” Sary continued, adding that police were still questioning the subject at the district police station yesterday evening. CITY Hall is renovating the park in front of the Phnom Penh Cultural Center in Tuol Kork district, a move that will displace taxis and vendors in a bid to reduce congestion and beautify the area, according to spokesman Mean Chanyada.
“We will remove the taxis and vendors from the area,” he said. “For the vendors, they mostly sell in an anarchical way, so when we make it neat, we need to move them out.”
The park is about 3,100 square metres and will include a garden, chairs and a water monument. Construction has already begun.
“It will take up to six months to complete,” Chanyada said, adding that the park ideally will be used for relaxing and exercise.
The move was met with predictable dismay by vendors.
“I don’t know where I am going to sell after this garden is completed,” said Phon Mengly, 28, a bread vendor. “I hope they don’t move us.”
Kim Heurn, 54, a taxi driver between Phnom Penh and Takeo, has been using the area for parking for two years.
“I have no idea what this area is going to be because they don’t post any signs to inform us in detail,” he said.
“If this is going to be a park, I will need to look for another place for my car.”