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Cambodian PM appeals to tycoon who beat ex-TV presenter to surrender

Xinhua, July 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday called on property tycoon Sok Bun, who brutally attacked a former TV presenter in a heated argument at a Phnom Penh restaurant on July 2, to return to the country to face justice.

The magnate is believed to have fled Cambodia for Singapore on July 8 after leaked security camera footage showing his attack on Cambodian Television Network ex-host Ek Socheata, better known as Sasa, has been widely circulated on the internet and publicized on local television channels.

The video showed Sok Bun engage in an argument with Sasa before dragging her to the floor and repeatedly punching and kicking her in the face and head, as his bodyguard pointed a pistol at Sasa.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Sok Bun has already admitted to have attacked Sasa, so he must surrender himself to police.

"I'd like to appeal to Sok Bun to come out quickly to face justice, don't wait until police approach and handcuff you," he said during a speech at a university student graduation ceremony.

"Such violence on a weak woman is extremely bad," he said. "I have never expected that such rich and famed person with an Oknha honorific title could commit such violence."

In a statement released on Tuesday by his lawyer, Sok Bun announced to offer the compensation of 100,000 U.S. dollars to Sasa and also announced to resign as the president of the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association and the director of joint ventures between his company and Singaporean partner TEHO- SBG International.

However, Sasa rejected the compensation offer, insisting to see her attacker face trial. Endi