- Five people were arrested and charged over the weekend in Kampong Chhnang province for their involvement in digging up a grave and cremating the remains.
The incident happened in Kanseng village in Boribor district’s Khon Rorng commune on Friday, according to provincial penal police chief Colonel Pich Ry. He said the grave belonged to Ky Youkleang, who died eight years ago.

Col. Ry identified the suspects as Diep Vouchlay, 60, the younger sister of the deceased, her two sons – Khy Sopheak, 25, and Khy Kunthear, 28 – priest Bek Khom, 70, and farmer Thuon Khim, 43.

They were charged by the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court with “desecrating a burial ground” under article 262 of the Criminal Code. They face from one month to one year in jail and a fine of up to two million riel ($500) if found guilty.

The suspects were arrested on Saturday in accordance with the complaint of Ky Youklim, 29, the daughter of the deceased.

During Ms. Vouchlay’s interrogation at the district police station yesterday, she said she was the younger sister of the deceased, said district penal police officer Bun Sary.
Ms. Vouchlay said she had been ill ever since her older sister died.

She said she had recently gone to a fortuneteller, asking the woman to predict her life and explain her illness.
The fortuneteller told her to remove her sister’s corpse from the grave and have it cremated.

“She said she decided to dig the corpse from the grave and have it cremated because the fortuneteller predicted it would improve her illness and she would become rich,” Mr. Sary told Khmer Times.

“She then hired a priest and a villager to remove the corpse from the grave and cremated it near the grave site without telling the children of the deceased,” he said.

A day after Ms. Vouchlay dug up the grave, her sister’s children became aware and filed a complaint with district police.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35870/ ... al-ground/

That's actually illegal? Oops. Is it just about consent from all the relatives?

Sounds like insufficient tea paid. According the article, local police chief and village chief didn't go along with the priest. That probably would have make it official.

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:58 am

She said she had recently gone to a fortuneteller, asking the woman to predict her life and explain her illness.
The fortuneteller told her to remove her sister’s corpse from the grave and have it cremated.

The real reason I suspect was nothing to do with "illness" in this case, and all to do with wealth. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she had removed a hand before burning the body to bury under the front step of her business.

Of course, it could also be desperation brought on by lack of opportunity to wealth and health. I doubt if they can afford to go to Singapore, Thailand or even Vietnam. Not sure whether they would want to got to Laos or not, but it wouldn't surprise me looking at the standards and prices of health care here.