Cambodian court decides to place attackers on lawmakers in pre-trial detention

A Cambodian court on Wednesday decided to place three men, suspected of assaulting two opposition lawmakers last week, in a pre-trial detention after a full-day inquiry, a senior police official said.

"The questioning judge decided to temporarily detain them at Prey Sar prison," Major General Sok Khemarin, chief of the Interior Ministry's Criminal Department, told Xinhua.

The pre-trial detention was made after Phnom Penh Municipal Court's deputy prosecutor Meas Chanpiseth charged the trio with intentional violence and property damage.

Under the kingdom's penal code, the crime of intentional violence could face imprisonment between 2 and 5 years, as the offense of intentional property damage could also be jailed between 2 and 5 years.

The three suspects -- Chay Sarith, 33, Mao Hoeun, 34, and Soth Vanny, 45 -- turned themselves in to the police on Tuesday and confessed to the attacks on two opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) lawmakers Nhay Chamroeun and Kong Sakphea on Oct. 26.

The two lawmakers were dragged from their cars while leaving the parliament and assaulted by the group, just an hour after pro-government protesters held a rally against CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday last week condemned the attacks and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The two injured lawmakers are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Thailand. Endit