Video of the abduction of Sombath Somphone on 15th December 2012 is below. Also see a chronology of the official investigation, and questions that are being raised about that investigation.
The following footage and images come from a CCTV recording being shown on a computer screen, like a “Cam bootleg,” so clarity has been lost. Even though many countries have offered to help in its analysis, the original CCTV footage has not been released.
A longer version of the video is available here.
The Amnesty International briefing ‘Caught on Camera: the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone’ provides additional analysis.
Still images from the video:
1. Police stop Jeep and talk to Sombath.
2. Sombath gets out of Jeep and joins police at side of road (~70 seconds later).
3. Police waits behind Jeep and in front of outpost (~30 seconds later).
4. Person in black jacket arrives on motorcycle (~8 seconds later).
5. Person in black jacket rushes to join police (~5 seconds later).
6. Person in black jacket gets into Jeep (~80 seconds later).
7. Jeep is driven away, leaving motorcycle (~15 seconds later).
8. Person in white jacket waits in front of police outpost for pickup (~2.5 minutes later).
9. Pickup truck arrives (~40 seconds later).
10. Person in white jacket enters pickup (~5 seconds later).
11. One or two more persons, including Sombath, enter pickup (~2 seconds later).
12. Policeman talks to persons on motorcycle exiting from behind outpost (~2 seconds later).
13. Motorcycle leaves, possibly firing shot (~3 seconds later) See Amnesty International report: Caught on Camera.
14. Pickup departs; police remains (~10 seconds later).
15. Police checks motorcycle (~35 seconds later).
16. Person in white jacket drags motorcycle away (~minutes later).
Picture showing space where Jeep and pickup parked, and police booth:
Map showing other CCTV cameras in area:
