Fishermen Chon Chanthan, 21, Sren Rithy, 20, and Kiev Thea, 25, went missing after taking a large boat offshore without their nets from the southern Cambodian town of Kep on June 28.

The body of Chon Chanthan was found floating offshore near the town two days later, with an autopsy showing he had been shot in the head, hands and stomach. The Vietnamese handed over Sren Rithy, who apparently drowned, on July 2.

Then last Thursday, Vietnamese authorities released Kiev Thea to Cambodian police, Kep deputy police chief Ka Yom told AFP.

Ka Yom said the surviving fisherman told police that the three men had encountered two Vietnamese navy boats who opened fire on the Cambodians when they ignored their request to stop.

"They refused to stop and tried to escape, but soon after the Vietnamese opened fire and rammed their boat, causing it to capsize," Ka Yom said, adding that he suspected the Cambodians had been stealing nets.

"But the Vietnamese should not have opened fire at the fishermen. They should have boarded the boat and arrested them."

He said officials from the neighbouring countries, which have overlapping sea claims in the gulf and suffer occasional spats over fishing rights, planned to discuss the case soon.

WAR.WIRE