PHNOM PENH — 2016 · Murder
The Murder of Kem Ley
Political analyst Kem Ley, known for his criticism of the government, was shot dead on the morning of 10 July 2016 while drinking coffee in a convenience store café at a petrol station in Phnom Penh. The gunman fled but was quickly caught, and said he had killed Kem Ley over a $3,000 debt; family and friends said no such debt existed. The killing came days after Kem Ley had commented on a report about the business networks of a leading government family. The gunman was sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2017. Rights groups continued to argue that possible masterminds were never investigated and called for an independent inquiry.
- Date
- 2016
- Place
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Phnom Penh, KH
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 11.5430, 104.9170 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 10 July 2016Kem Ley was shot dead in a convenience store café in Phnom Penh.
- 10 July 2016The gunman was caught and claimed a debt as his motive.
- 24 July 2016Tens of thousands joined the funeral procession.
- 23 March 2017The gunman was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sources
- The Guardian — Cambodian government critic shot dead in Phnom Penh theguardian.com ↗
- The Diplomat — What's behind the death of a prominent critic? thediplomat.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Kem Ley en.wikipedia.org ↗
- The Guardian
- The Diplomat
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.