| Original report from Phnom Penh 14 July 2008 |
A government official injured in an acid attack in Phnom Penh Sunday was sent for treatment in Thailand, but his condition is not critical, a top police official said Monday.
Ngor Srun, a Cambodian People's Party secretary of state for the Council of Ministers (who is the son-in-law of Senate President Chea Sim), was attacked Sunday afternoon as he had a flat tire changed on his car on Kampuchea Krom Boulevard, Phnom Penh Police Chief Touch Naroth said.
Ngor Srun was treated for several hours at Calmette Hospital and sent to Thailand around 4 pm Sunday afternoon, hospital officials said.
Police will begin an investigation, even though there has been no charges pressed by the victim or his family, Touch Naroth said.
Neither suspects nor motive have been identified, and no one has come forward as a witness, making an investigation difficult, Touch Saroth said.
Ngor Srun was injured on his face and chest, though the injuries were not critical, Touch Naroth said.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, confirmed the attack and the victim's government position, but he declined to give further details.
Prampi Makara District Governor Srun Sroan said he would push for further investigation, but he could not release more information because none had been provided by the family.
Kek Galabru, president of the rights group Licadho, said the case was likely related to a personal conflict.
The use of powerful acids to attack personal rivals is not uncommon in Cambodia. At least eight people, including six men, have been killed in such attacks since 1999, with about 90 men and 90 women reporting attacks, according to Licadho.
Sunday's assault was the first acid attack on a government official and came two days after the shooting murders of an opposition newspaper reporter and his son in Phnom Penh.
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