Cambodian pop singer Pov Panhapich was critically wounded in Phnom Penh on Friday, when two unknown gunmen shot her in the stomach and throat as she visited an English language school in the capital. She was later evacuated to Vietnam for treatment.
Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth told reporters that he did not believe it to be a chance incident, saying: "When she got out of her car, the two offenders immediately shot her. It is not a robbery case, it is some other dispute. But we cannot conclude what the dispute stemmed from. We are investigating".
She's not the first local celebrity to be the subject of a hit in recent years; it's thought to be due to the fact that famous female performers frequently become involved with powerful businessmen and government officials. A number of young stars have been attacked, with sometimes devastating results; singer Touch Sreynich is still paralysed after being shot in 2003, whilst film actress Piseth Pilika was shot dead in 1999.