The Video

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.

01-police-stop-jeep-talk-to-sombath

2. Sombath gets out of Jeep and joins police at side of road (~70 seconds later).

02-Sombath-exits-Jeep-joins-police

3. Police waits behind Jeep and in front of outpost (~30 seconds later).

03-Police-behind-Jeep

4. Person in black jacket arrives on motorcycle (~8 seconds later).

04-Person-in-Black-Arrives-on-Motorcycle

5. Person in black jacket rushes to join police (~5 seconds later).

05-Person-Rushes-to-Join-Police

6. Person in black jacket gets into Jeep (~80 seconds later).

06-Person-in-Black-Gets-in-Jeep

7. Jeep is driven away, leaving motorcycle (~15 seconds later).

07-Jeep-driven-away

8. Person in white jacket waits in front of police outpost for pickup (~2.5 minutes later).

08-Person-in-white-waits-for-pickup

9. Pickup truck arrives (~40 seconds later).

09-Pickup-arrives

10. Person in white jacket enters pickup (~5 seconds later).

10-Person-in-white-gets-in-pickup-arrives

11. One or two more persons, including Sombath, enter pickup (~2 seconds later).

11-One-or-two-more-persons-enter-pickup

12. Policeman talks to persons on motorcycle exiting from behind outpost (~2 seconds later).

12-Police-talking-to-motorcyle

13. Motorcycle leaves, possibly firing shot (~3 seconds later) See Amnesty International report: Caught on Camera.

13-motorcycle-leaves-firing-shot

14. Pickup departs; police remains (~10 seconds later).

14-pickup-departs

15. Police checks motorcycle (~35 seconds later).

15-police-checks-motorcycle

16. Person in white jacket drags motorcycle away (~minutes later).

16-person-in-white-drags-motorcycle

Picture showing space where Jeep and pickup parked, and police booth:

Police Booth
Map showing other CCTV cameras in area:

Map-13