Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Cambodia launches investigation of police chief's helicopter crash

The Earth Times
Mon, 10 Nov 2008
Author : DPA

Phnom Penh - The Cambodian government on Monday launched an investigation into a helicopter crash that killed the country's controversial chief of police and three others on Sunday night. Hok Lundy, a close ally of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, died along with deputy army commander Sok Sa Em and two pilots when their helicopter crashed en route to the police chief's home province of Svay Rieng near the Vietnamese border.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said an investigation into the incident had begun but declined to provide any further details.

"We are unable to provide specific details until the investigation is completed," he told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

National media reported Hok Lundy's funeral was held under tight security at his Phnom Penh home on Monday.

The police chief's remains would be sent to Svay Rieng but a date for the burial had not been set, the French and Khmer language newspaper Cambodge Soir reported.

Hok Lundy was appointed as Cambodia's chief of police in 1994.

One of his daughters is married to one of Hun Sen's sons. In 2006 the police chief was denied a visa to enter the United States amid allegations of involvement in human trafficking.

No comments: