Domestic Violence case:
On February 12, 2010 at 12:00 a.m. a case of domestic violence occurred in Tropang Oudoung village, Satpong Commune, Chhouk District, Kampot province. A farmer named Sok Kho, a gambler and alcoholic, always felt jealous and used to beat up his wife almost everyday. On the day of the incident, the perpetrator came back drunk; he threatened his wife and asked for more cash to buy more alcohol. His wife not only rejected him but left the house and asked a neighbor for a place to stay. The perpetrator then started to burn the house but the fire was put off immediately by the neighbors. When the police arrived at the scene, they arrested the husband and put him behind bar for good.
Rape Case:
On February 1st, 2010, at 3:00 a.m. there was an attempted rape on a 20 years old teacher in Tropang Kngeng village, Sdauy Commune, Songkom Thmey District, Preah Vihear province. The perpetrator is a district governor of Songkom Thmey District named Oung Vuthy, known as Pov. On the day of the incident Oung Vuthy made a quick call to the victim and told her to ask her parents for a place to stay during his mission to arrest illegal wood sellers. When arriving for dinner at the victim’s house Oung Vuthy also brought along his colleague named Kdam. After dinner they both left for their mission. At about 3:00 a.m. Oung Vuthy returned back to the victim’s house along with 3-4 armed forces. While the rest of his colleagues were resting besides the victim’s house, Oung Vuthy came back up in the house, entered the victim’s room and intended to rape her. The loud noises and the shouting of the victim woke up the victim’s parents. They immediately rushed to Oung Vuthy’s colleague Kdam, for help. But Kdam refused to interfere due to the fear of Oung Vuthy as a boss. Another colleague then suggested that the victim’s mother should break into the room and bring the victim to sleep in her own room. The victim’s mother had finally managed to break her daughter free from the grip of Oung Vuthy. But before leaving the perpetrator threatened the victim and her family that he would come back in a few days to take his revenge. Due to the fear of this threat, the victim and her family decided to file complaint to local authorities and ADHOC for help. In the past, people of Songkom Thmey District have made numerous complaints about the misdeeds of Oung Vuthy such as burning and destroying military camps, people’s houses and illegal deforestation. ADHOC has not only sent a lawyer to monitor and investigate the case but will continue to cooperate with local authorities, the victim and her family on the progress of this case. Recently, we observed that Oung Vuthy has been demoted from his rank as a district governor and the charges against him are still under investigation.
