PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has decided to remove a senior official of the Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Deputy Director General Bel Vanndeth, from his post and has ordered the Minister of Justice to work with the court to arrest and imprison him.

The decision to sack and arrest Bel Vanndeth was announced on Tuesday morning, 11 April 2023, after the Prime Minister received information about the official's illegal use of a weapon to cause harm to someone.

"If the court does not take legal action, let me discipline the state first," wrote the Prime Minister, in a message shared through his Telegram channel. "Authorities have the power to use weapons to threaten the weak."

The Prime Minister ordered the Minister of Justice to work with the municipal court to ensure the perpetrator remains detained before his trial, in case he continues to be a threat to others. The Prime Minister said he hopes this will be a warning message to all public officials to avoid using their positions of power to harm others, and to especially avoid the illegal use of weapons.

On 29 March, Bell Vanndeth was involved in a road rage incident where he pointed a gun at a student and threatened to kill him after a dispute on the road.

Vanndeth was arrested on 30 March after the university student filed a complaint, however, on 3 April, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court decided to release him from detainment and put him under judicial supervision only.