PHNOM PENH: The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has issued an order to bring in an assailant who drove a car and hit three people, including an infant, on Chroy Changvar bridge on 5 December 2022. The infant later died from injuries sustained in the accident.

Now the perpetrator has failed to appear at court as per the summons, and local authorities have stated that he is on the run.

According to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, the drunk driver, 19-year-old Som Nori Tiya, was driving a white LEXUS NX200t with license plate Phnom Penh 2BB-9989, when he hit the three victims on a bike.

Chroy Changvar Administrative Police Chief, Taing Oeun, told EAC News on Wednesday, 28 December, that authorities were looking for the perpetrator after receiving a warrant to bring him in to court.

He added that Chroy Changvar district authorities had arrested the perpetrator on the day of the incident and also sent him to the Road Traffic Office.

"The perpetrator has been fleeing our base since the court order was issued," he said. "We do not know where he went. His family at home did not [know of the] escape. We are looking for the perpetrator."

It should be noted that the perpetrator was first arrested on 5 December and issued a fine of 2 million riel under the new Article 10 of the Road Traffic Law. The perpetrator and the victims had agreed to a US $2,500 settlement in civil damages. However, the perpetrator continued to be prosecuted by the specialized force, and the case was sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to go forward with legal proceedings.

A 2-month-old baby involved in the accident died on 12 December 2022, despite emergency medical efforts at Kantha Bopha Hospital. The infant’s cause of death was stated as a severe concussion.

According to Article 85 of the Road Traffic Law, anyone who drives recklessly and causes death will be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison and fined 4 to 15 million riel.

If a person is driving under the influence of alcohol with a rate of 4 mg of alcohol per litre of air or 0.08 per liter of blood, causes many deaths and flees the scene, they will be sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison and receive a fine of 10 to 25 million riel.