Pakistani Man Charged With Murder of Girlfriend in Phnom Penh
A 33-year-old Pakistani national has been charged with murder after allegedly strangling his girlfriend to death during a late-night argument at a rented home in Phnom Penh, court officials said.
The suspect, identified in court documents as Hassan Taimoor, was formally charged on Saturday by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court under Article 199 of Cambodia’s Criminal Code. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
The killing took place around 1am on January 31 at the victim’s residence in Kakab commune, in the capital’s Por Senchey district.
Argument Turned Deadly
According to Major Veng Sarun, deputy chief of the Municipal Criminal Office, the suspect and the victim, 28-year-old Kanwal Shammsa, were living together at the time of the incident.
Police reports indicate that earlier in the evening, at around 9pm on January 30, Taimoor had gone drinking with two other Pakistani friends at a bar in Daun Penh district’s Chey Chumneas commune, near the Mekong River. Shammsa remained at home.
Investigators say the dispute began when Taimoor returned to the house intoxicated and was confronted by Shammsa. During the argument, he allegedly struck her on the face and head, causing her to lose consciousness.
“After regaining consciousness, the victim started insulting the accused again,” Maj Sarun said, citing the suspect’s confession. “The man then picked up a cable to strangle the woman, who died at the scene.”
Attempt to Avoid Detection
Police said that after realising the woman was dead, Taimoor contacted three acquaintances — identified as David, Batool Nadla and Musiaq Ajas — to inform them of what had happened.
The group reportedly hired a taxi and transported the victim’s body to a hospital emergency room. Authorities said they left the hospital shortly afterward and fled.
Taimoor was arrested on February 19 by criminal police officers in front of the Embassy of Pakistan, Phnom Penh.
Officials have not disclosed whether he had sought assistance at the embassy before his arrest. Police are continuing to search for the three men who allegedly helped transport the body.
Legal Consequences
Under Article 199 of Cambodia’s Criminal Code, murder carries a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether additional charges — such as obstruction of justice — may be pursued against others involved.
The case has drawn attention within Phnom Penh’s expatriate community, particularly among foreign nationals living and working in the Cambodian capital.
Authorities have reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing and that anyone found to have assisted in concealing evidence or aiding the suspect after the crime could face legal consequences.
For now, Taimoor remains in pre-trial detention as the court prepares for further proceedings.
The killing marks another instance of domestic violence turning fatal — a stark reminder, officials say, of the deadly consequences that can follow unchecked disputes behind closed doors.
