Top Cambodian female singer shot

Feb 23, 2007, 4:27 GMT

Phnom Penh - One of Cambodia's top female singers was in a critical condition Friday after being shot twice at close range while on her way to college, police said.

Pov Panhapich, aged in her mid-20s, was shot at close range on a central city street before 7 a.m. (0000 GMT) in front of the Ministry of Mines and Energy building as she prepared to enter the English school she was enrolled at, deputy chief of Daun Penh penal police, Ros Sinna.

'We don't know what happened yet. We have no motive and we are still investigating,' Sinna said by telephone. He said she appeared to have been shot in the throat and hip.

The beautiful singer and sometime-actress is famous for contemporary hits such as 'Joeung Klang' (Strong Feet) and is one of the country's top 10 recording artists.

A number of Cambodian singers and actresses have been shot or attacked with acid in recent years. Most of these attacks have been blamed on either jealousy or politics. Police Friday said it was too early to speculate in Panhapich's case but the pop star was not believed to be active in politics.

Panhapich was rushed to Calmette Hospital but was expected to be moved to a hospital in Vietnam later Friday for further treatment.