A Kandal resident argued with relatives of a local police official about trash before being arrested for allegedly damaging property and detained for two days, raising concerns about abuse of power and potential discrimination against an opposition Candlelight Party member.
Lok Chhean, nephew of Kong Uon, said his family was sweeping trash outside their home in Khsach Kandal district Wednesday when a neighboring family related to the district police deputy dumped a pile of trash outside their house.
Uon argued with the neighbors, and then they left. About half an hour later, Uon brought out an ax and cut down a dead tree in the family’s own compound, according to the nephew.
There was no violence, but police came to arrest Uon, accusing him of destroying others’ property, Chhean said. Chhen said he suspected that someone with power had lodged the police complaint against his uncle.
“[We] cut the tree on our land. I think it is unfair. They don’t let us walk. … They are sent to prison,” the nephew said.
Uon was released around 3 p.m. Friday.
The Candlelight Party’s Khsach Kandal district secretary, Hak Chhunly, added that Uon was an opposition member, he was concerned that politics could have played a role in the arrest.
Chhunly also said that no arrest warrant had been presented upon Uon’s arrest. “[They] made an arrest without an order, and it is not a red-handed crime,” he said.
District police chief Men Sokhoeun on Thursday acknowledged that police arrested Uon in relation to destroying others’ property, but referred further questions to Kandal provincial police.
Provincial police chief Chhoeun Sochet could not be reached for comment.
Updated with information on Uon’s release Friday afternoon.
