On April 10, 2026, a journalist from NMR TV in Ratanakiri Province was assaulted by a man identified as the driver of a timber transport truck in Ratanakiri Province. During the altercation, the journalist was grabbed and slammed to the ground.
The journalist told CamboJA that on the day of the incident, he and two other journalists were traveling by motorbike. Along the way, they noticed a truck carrying timber parked in front of a man's house. The man was later identified as one of the alleged perpetrators.
According to the journalist, the group stopped behind the truck and attempted to take photographs of it. At that point, the man approached them and questioned why they were there, asking, "What are you doing here behind the truck?" In response, one of the journalists asked what the truck was carrying.
The man replied that the truck was transporting timber on behalf of a "high-ranking government official." He then mockingly challenged the journalists to take photos, saying, "Do you want to take a photo? Then just do it!"
The journalist said he proceeded to photograph the truck, which led to a verbal confrontation. The situation quickly escalated when the man allegedly grabbed him and slammed him to the ground.
The other journalists who were present intervened and helped the victim leave the scene. The incident occurred in Village 2, Trapeang Chres Commune, Kon Mom District, Ratanakiri Province.
The journalist reported that the alleged perpetrator was immediately detained by village guards and handed over to the commune police after a complaint was filed.
According to information later received by the journalist, the suspect was released on April 12, 2026, by a prosecutor at the Ratanakiri Provincial Court. However, the journalist said he was not informed of the reason for the suspect's release.
On May 6, 2026, the journalist and his lawyer were summoned by the Ratanakiri Provincial Court for questioning about the incident. He said that during the questioning, court officials asked him about the case but informed him that no further action would be taken because the alleged perpetrator had already been released.