CNRP commune chief charged

A CNRP commune chief was charged yesterday morning for allegedly assaulting one of his constituents in Kampong Cham’s Chrey Vien commune during a dispute last Wednesday.

Commune Chief Lim Bros, 45, allegedly slapped Touch Phalla, 38, in the face and threatened to kill him, according to statements from Bros and Phalla’s wife.

Deputy Provincial Police Chief Heng Vuthy said Phalla’s wife filed the complaint.

“The commune chief threatened the villager, slapping the face of her husband. Then she filed the complaint. This commune had many problems in the past . . . and now people cannot stand it anymore,” Vuthy said.

Tang Soeung, head of the CNRP executive committee for Kampong Cham province, said the conflict arose after Phalla blocked the road.

“You block me, are you a traffic police?” Bros allegedly asked Phalla, according to Soeung. “Then the quarrel happened. It is said that [Bros] hit the villager, and then the villager responded with a kick. They cursed each other,” Soeung said.

Bros’s wife, who was not present during the incident, reportedly told Soeung that Bros also threatened the villager and his family.

“On the day of your child’s wedding, if you make a ceremony that blocks my way, you should install the white flags in advance,” Bros purportedly said, referring to funeral flags.

A decision from the investigating judges at the provincial court shows that Bros has been charged with intentional violence, acts of threat and public insult under the Criminal Code. The charges would carry a maximum sentence of three and a half years in jail and fines up to 17 million riel (or about $4,100).