Khmer Times/Taing Vida Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Video footage of political analyst Kem Ley’s murder will be released to the public after a police investigation into the killing is finished, according to Phnom Penh Municipal Police chief Choun Savann.
Closed-circuit television footage of the July 10 murder was seized by police from the gas station coffee shop immediately after Mr. Ley was shot there while drinking coffee and reading a newspaper.
Police also seized other evidence and rounded up eyewitnesses for questioning at the Chamkar Morn district police station.
Speaking to Khmer Times yesterday, Mr. Sovann said the investigation into Mr. Ley’s murder was underway and that once the case was closed, all evidence would be released to the public.
“One-hundred percent of the evidence must be shown. Especially during the hearing. It must be shown to the public,” he said.
“This case is under investigation, I cannot tell you whether we found the suspects, accomplices or someone staying behind. If I tell [you] now, it is wrong and it will affect our investigation,” Mr. Sovann said, adding that he did not have a timeline for when the preliminary investigation would be finished.
News of the investigation’s ongoing nature comes despite the gunman’s arrest shortly after Mr. Ley’s murder. The gunman, former soldier Eurth Ang, admitted to shooting Mr. Ley over a $3,000 debt.
But doubt has been cast over his motive.
Mr. Ang initially lied about his name when he was arrested and multiple interviews by a variety of news outlets with Mr. Ang’s wife revealed that there is no way the man could have loaned Mr. Ley $3,000, as he and his wife were living in extreme poverty.
Confusing answers from the alleged killer, statements from the man’s wife refuting his alleged motives and Mr. Ley’s own critical comments about Prime Minister Hun Sen only days before his death have all contributed to an overwhelming sense that Mr. Ley’s death was politically motivated.
Many government critics in the past met the same violent fate as Mr. Ley, including unionist Chea Vichea.
Mr. Ley’s funeral procession from the capital’s Wat Chas to his hometown in Takeo province on Sunday drew tens of thousands of mourners, with some crowd estimates topping six digits. All marched, rode motorcycles or drove behind the beloved national figure’s body as it made its way to its final resting place.
Mr. Ley was buried in Tram Kak district at 11:30am yesterday, with hundreds participating in the ceremony including Sok Touch, the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s director of research and a former political analyst himself.
When asked about the importance of the CCTV footage of Mr. Ley’s murder, Mr. Touch said it was vital.
“The footage is the main basic piece of evidence that shows who took part in the murder. The police must show this video,” he said.