Cambodian ‘confesses’ to role in attack
Phnom Penh tells its embassy in Thailand to defend two nationals jailed for clash with DSI during raid
POLICE in Sa Kaew caught another Cambodian yesterday suspected of being involved in the clash with Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers last Wednesday when they raided outlets selling pirated merchandise at a border market.
Police had got court approval for three arrest warrants yesterday for Cambodian vendors involved in the attacks.
Jomrern Jarern, 32, a shoe trader, has been charged with resisting police arrest by assaulting and intimidation after conspiring with more than three people.
The arrest took place after Colonel Seksan Wattanapong, superintendent of Klong Luek Police Station, and others, checked video footage that captured the incident.
Hundreds of Cambodian vendors and employees attacked DSI officials last Wednesday who raided stalls selling pirated products |at the Rong Kluea market in Sa Kaew province, which borders Cambodia.
Police caught Jomrern yesterday while he was walking in the market. The suspect confessed that he was the same man seen in the video footage. He was taken to Klong Luek Police Station for interrogation.
Jomrern confessed that he threw bags at DSI officials from the back of a six-wheel truck to help rescue Muay, a Cambodian woman trader who was detained in the truck. Muay was able to escape with the help of Jomrern.
He said he did not know that the officials were real authorities – he thought they were people disguised as DSI officials.
Earlier, two Cambodian men, Nhim Seiha, 24, and Kong Sam Un, 22, were involved in a fight that broke out at the Rong Kluea market on Wednesday morning, when officers from the DSI confiscated counterfeit items being sold by Cambodian vendors.
In retaliation, the vendors allegedly beat up the officers and damaged their vehicles.
The DSI report on the incident said nearly 400 Cambodians surrounded the officials and overturned an SUV during the operation to confiscate fake versions of brand-name products, according to an Associated Press report.
Sa Kaew District Court later sentenced the two Cambodians to three months in jail.
Police said that since Jomrern faces criminal charges, he would face heavier punishment if convicted.
Meanwhile, Cambodian officials are attempting to secure the release of the two Cambodian men sentenced to three months in jail on Thursday, the Cambodia Daily reported.
The report said the Cambodian Foreign Ministry had instructed Cambodian diplomats in Thailand to review video footage of the attack and attempt to secure legal representation for the jailed duo.
“Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam-hong has immediately advised the ambassador and consuls in Thailand to find a lawyer to defend our people,” the Cambodia Daily quoted the statement from the Foreign Ministry as saying.
More than 50 per cent of shops in Rong Kluea market were closed after the incidents, even though people continued to flock to |the market to shop for merchandise.
At immigration checkpoints in Sa Kaew, officials carried out strict checks on Cambodians passing the checkpoints as police are still searching for two more suspects, for whom arrest warrants have been issued.
More Cambodians crossed the border than usual as Chinese Cambodians headed to the Rong Kluea market to shop for food and items used to celebrate Chinese New Year in their country.
