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Former Cambodian opposition lawmaker Lim Kimya shot dead in Bangkok; suspect extradited to Thailand

Thai police say the man they suspect of the Jan. 7 shooting was arrested in Cambodia's Battambang province on Jan. 8 and handed over to Thailand on Jan. 11. He is in custody.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Jan 30, 2025, 2:43 a.m. ETWritten Aug 8, 2026, 10:33 p.m. ET
Lim Kimya, a former lawmaker for the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was shot in on Jan. 7, 2025, just after arriving in the , according to reporting by RFA Khmer carried by globalsecurity.org. His family members, who spoke to Radio Free Asia, released his name. and Thai authorities are among the agencies that have responded. Officials have not stated a motive, and the circumstances of the attack have not been established. said a suspected gunman, , was arrested on Jan. 8 in Cambodia's Battambang province and extradited to Thailand on Jan. 11. He is . Authorities have not publicly described the evidence against him or said what charges he faces. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet denied any government involvement in the killing at an inauguration ceremony in Pursat province on Jan. 20, saying: "If the government were behind the murder, we wouldn't have apprehended the suspect and sent him to Thailand." On Jan. 19, opposition figure Sam Rainsy posted on Facebook noting that neither Hun Sen nor Hun Manet had publicly condemned the shooting. Deputy Phnom Penh governor Khliang Huot said, "If they summon me I will go immediately," and added: "I don't have any security concerns. I am innocent. I have nothing to worry about." It has not been stated publicly what, if anything, links him to the investigation. Lim Kimya's body arrived in Paris, and family members told RFA he was to be buried on Feb. 3.

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  1. Version 19 Aug 2026, 02:33current

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