Cambodia News (Kandal): On November 17, 2020, the police arrested two men for damaging Buddha statues on Baseth mountain, in Baseth Trai Treng pagoda, Ponhea Leu district, Kandal. The suspects were identified as Kong Somnang, 39 years old, and Bin Sophea, 39 years old.

The police confiscated a Lexus car plate 2AV-9545, a car key, 2 keys, and a phone. The suspects damaged and vandalised 8 temple statues, 1 vase, 2 jars, 1 sola pole, 1 ancestors house, and some paying equipment.

A 66-year-old man, Soth Sim, a conservation culture officer in Baseth mountain, reported to the police that two men rode a Lexus car to Baseth Trai Treng. The suspect named Kong Samnang ran to the temple and smashed down the temple door. Then, he damaged 4 statues of Preah Neang Tep Broman and the ancestors' house. He broke down the two dragon's heads and a sola pole. After that, they went to the Srey Krobleak temple and damaged 4 statues (1 Srey Kroleak statue, 1 Neang Pov statue,1 Koma Pich statue, and 1 Preah Ang Chek statue) and other praying equipment.

After receiving the information, Lveang police collaborated with the Justice Department police, went to the scene, and arrested the two suspects immediately. They were sent to the Ponnhea Lue police station for questioning. For the moment, nobody knows why the suspects decided to vandalise the temple.

"praying equipment" sounds to me like it could be pretty much anything

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:13 am "praying equipment" sounds to me like it could be pretty much anything

Praying equipment could be: Incense and holders, bits of cloth, jars of flowers, various offerings left by local people...

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:21 am

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:13 am "praying equipment" sounds to me like it could be pretty much anything

Praying equipment could be: Incense and holders, bits of cloth, jars of flowers, various offerings left by local people...

yeah no sure, at this time this place. Pretty subjective stuff anyway. Weed-filled bongs for Rastafarians, hats, scarves, the odd things Jewish people use on their foreheads, jars of flowers for others, whatever.
I don't like destructive cunts anyway, especially for beautiful objects.

Vandalism of religious sites is pretty common world-wide, maybe churches moreso than mosques or synagogues except when fundamentalists are involved.

Christianity especially is seen as irrelevant to much of today's youth

People blame God or whoever or whatever

Any ideas why these guys would do something like this, like a motive?

Wilhelm wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:42 pm Any ideas why these guys would do something like this, like a motive?

One of the men was upset with his wife. The other guy was the taxi driver.

November 19, 2020
Duo in court over Phnom Prasidh statue destruction
Kandal Provincial police yesterday filed a court case against two men for damaging 10 statues at a temple in Phnom Prasidh Traitrang, Ponhea Leu district.

Kandal district police chief Captain Duong Teng identified the suspects as Kong Samnang, 39, living in Prey Pong village, Ponhea Poan commune, Prek Pnov district, Phnom Penh, and Bin Sophea, 39, a taxi driver, living in Trapeang Svay village, Kork Khlaing commune, Sen Sok district, Phnom Penh, both currently being held in custody.

Cap Teng said that Samnang rented a taxi to visit the temple on Prasidh Mountain on Tuesday after an argument with his wife, who said she wanted a divorce because she was in love with her boyfriend.

Cap Teng said it was likely that Samnang was drunk and out of his mind with rage after the argument. “He may have a mental problem, but we do not have a medical certificate, just our conclusion,” he said.

According to Cap Teng, Samnang wanted to light incense at the temple, so he hired a taxi and went up the mountain.

Brigadier General Chea Sareth of the Chhvaing police station said that onlookers reported to police when they saw him breaking the statues.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50784229/d ... struction/