Cambodian court charges 8 'grenade blast' suspects with premeditated murder, attempted murder

A Cambodian court has formally charged eight suspects, including three women, in a Phnom Penh grenade explosion earlier this month that left four people wounded, a court spokesman said on Saturday.

The suspects, five Cambodians and three Vietnamese, have been arrested this week after a thorough investigation by a National Police team.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court's spokesman Ly Sophanna said the Cambodian suspects were charged with a premeditated murder, as the Vietnamese suspects were charged with an attempted murder.

"The Court's Investigating Judge Nou Veasna decided to place them in a pre-trial detention," he told Xinhua.

Under the Kingdom's Penal Code, the premeditated murder charge could face a life imprisonment, while the attempted murder charge could carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

At least four people were injured and four cars were damaged when a grenade went off in the evening of Sept. 6 in Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district. Security footage shows the grenade was dropped from a passing motorbike and exploded on the driver's side of a white Lexus SUV as it passed by.

Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Gen. Chuon Sovann said in a press conference on Friday that Cambodian woman Sok Kimly, 41, who was arrested Tuesday night, had masterminded the grenade attack in an attempt to kill a man who was identified as Ear Kimhour.

He said that personal revenge was the motive behind the grenade blast.

Source : XINHUA