A 22-year-old inmate at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison died in a hospital from heart disease and lack of oxygen to the brain. His family is demanding an investigation, questioning delays in his medical care and citing severe overcrowding in the prison.
Leap Chantha was charged in December 2023 for possessing or transporting weapons without a permit, intentional violence, theft, and illegal drug use. He was sentenced to three years in prison and had served one year and two months at the time of his death.
According to a statement from Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison, Chantha showed no signs of illness during the period of his imprisonment. However, on March 20, he suddenly fell ill. Prison officials sent him to the health post, where medical staff saw that he was exhausted, struggling to breathe, wheezing, vomiting, and with bluish hands and feet.
The officials transferred him to the emergency room at the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Hospital. His family was only contacted after he was admitted.
He died a day later from heart disease and lack of oxygen to the brain.
Chantha’s father, Teav Sam Ol, told CamboJA News that he is not satisfied with how the case was handled, questioning why prison officials did not notify the family immediately and seek medical care before his son’s condition worsened.
“When I arrived at the hospital, doctors said that the patient (Chantha) was already serious, and could not be helped,” he said.
Sam Ol recalled that during their visits to the prison, Chantha complained about the overcrowding in prison.
A recent report by local rights group Licadho highlighted the crisis, revealing that Cambodian prisons are operating at over 200% capacity in some facilities, with inmate numbers surging by 23%. The organization warned that overcrowding exacerbates health risks and exposes gaps in the country’s criminal justice system.
He is now urging the Ministry of Interior to launch an investigation into his son’s death.
Licadho operations director Sam Sam Ath emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into Chantha’s death, whether it occurred in prison or at the hospital. He questioned how long Chantha had been unwell, whether he received proper medical attention, and if delays in sending him to the hospital contributed to his death.
“For prisoners, the process of getting medical care is slower than for ordinary citizens. They need approval from a prosecutor before being transferred to a hospital, which can cause critical delays. This aspect needs further investigation,” he said.
Sam Ath also highlighted the severe overcrowding in Cambodian prisons, which significantly impacts inmates’ health. Overcrowding results in bad air circulation, sanitation, access to exercise, food, and water—factors that can lead to serious health complications.
“Overcrowding increases anxiety, leading to high blood pressure and a higher risk of infectious diseases,” he added.
While all prisons have health posts, Sam Ath noted that they often lack sufficient medical supplies and equipment. When a prisoner develops a serious health issue that the prison health post cannot handle, they must be sent to hospital immediately.
Ung Siphan, director of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison, declined to comment.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak and General Prison Department spokesperson Kheang Sonadin did not respond at the time of publication.
