Journalist killed after wedding

Authorities did not reveal a motive for the murder yesterday.

Authorities did not reveal a motive for the murder yesterday. Post News

A local journalist was killed by a group of people yesterday while returning from a wedding party with two friends in Kratie province’s Snuol district.

Colonel Chan Sok Kim, district police chief, yesterday identified the victim as Sorn Rithy, 18, who worked for BTBP TV Online.

He said that shortly after midnight yesterday, the victim and his friends were riding on a motorbike after leaving the dance party in the district’s Pi Thnou commune to go to their homes in Snuol commune.

Col Sok Kim noted that Mr Rithy was seated at the back.

He said that after they had travelled about three kilometres, the three were ambushed by a group of men who attacked them, causing Mr Rithy to fall off the motorbike.

Col Sok Kim noted that the two friends drove off to escape the attackers.

“A group of people attacked them and Mr Rithy fell down from the motorbike,” he said. “They then kept hitting the victim, including with a stone, until he died.”

Col Sok Kim said that the group of men fled after killing Mr Rithy and police have yet to identify them.

“Now our police officials are investigating this case,” he said.

Poeng Vin, Pi Thnou commune chief, yesterday said that he had just heard about the killing and he did not know Mr Rithy because he had not lived in the commune.

“I heard commune police officers say that the victim suffered serious head injuries,” Mr Vin said. “Now police officers are investigating this case to find and arrest those responsible for the killing.”

Captain Sim Horn, commune police chief, could not be reached for comment yesterday. District Governor Kong Kimny declined to comment.

Sem Diya, publisher of BTBP TV Online, yesterday said that he called a district police officer who told him that 20 people were involved in the attack on Mr Rithy.