Seven Inmates Breakout of Stung Treng Provincial Prison
Authorities in Stung Treng Province are still searching for seven men who escaped from prison at around 3 a.m. on Nov. 8. Photo from TVK.
- By Lay Sopheavotey
- and Meng Seavmey
- November 8, 2021 4:53 PM
Authorities release names of seven escaped convicts, but say they are no closer to finding the men
PHNOM PENH--Authorities in Stung Treng Province are still searching for seven men who escaped from prison at around 3 a.m. on Nov. 8, the public has been asked to report any suspicious activity immediately as the manhunt continues.
Aun Sivutha police chief of Stung Treng Province took to social media to name the escaped prisoners—almost all were arrested in 2017 on drug-related charges.
Six of escapees were imprisoned due to their involvement in the drugs trade, including Chakly Cheutaly, who was arrested in July 2017, Lavann Kavong Pheng, arrested in May the same year, Sean Khorn, who was also arrested in May 2017 a week before Kavong Pheng, while Phit Ngin and Vann Phou were arrested in July 2020 and October 2020 respectively.
Touch Vath, also jailed on drugs offenses, did not have a recorded arrest date, according to the police.
Meanwhile, Horn Vimean, the seventh escapee, was jailed for aggravated theft, torture and cruel treatment in September 2017.
According to Stung Treng Provincial Hall spokesperson Men Kung, seven prisoners used wooden sticks to break through the prison’s wall and escaped, but authorities have no clues as to where the inmates are now.
“All relevant authorities are investigating this case at the moment,” he said.
Among the seven escapees, one had received a life sentence for drug trafficking, while another was serving a four-year sentence and the other five prisoners were serving sentences of up to 20 years.
Most were imprisoned on drugs charges, but some of the escapees were involved in the illegal wood trade, according to Men Kung.
“They must have been planning this,” said Men Kung, who added that he is yet to be notified if the seven escapees had received help from the outside or anyone else within the prison—more information is expected from the ongoing investigation soon, he said.
He warned the public that the prisoners are to be considered dangerous and called on citizens to cooperate with the authorities by alerting them to anything suspicious.
