The police in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, have busted a gang that pretended to be Cambodian gendarmes, specializing in extorting and kidnapping Chinese nationals. A total of seven male suspects have been arrested.
According to the Cambodia-China Times, on the evening of the 21st, Phnom Penh police chief Sar Thet clarified to the newspaper that police had initially detained eight people. After investigation, one was found not involved and has been released; the other seven suspects have been transferred for legal processing.
Sar Thet revealed that the gang, on multiple occasions at night, wore gendarme uniforms and posed as law enforcement officers to detain Chinese nationals in Phnom Penh, then committed extortion and kidnapping under the pretense of “case investigation.”
"They specifically targeted foreigners, mainly Chinese nationals, and have committed this crime repeatedly."
During the operation, police confiscated four handguns, several magazines, multiple pairs of handcuffs, gendarme uniforms, and Royal Army license plates, among other items.
According to the police report, at 3:20 a.m. on November 15, a 29-year-old Chinese man in Phnom Penh was illegally detained by this gang and extorted for $52,000.
The National Police General Commission coordinated with police from various provinces and cities to carry out a joint operation, arresting all suspects on November 19.
All seven suspects are Cambodian men aged between 24 and 35, and several admitted that they had long been employed as drivers for Chinese nationals. After interrogation, the suspects confessed to six previous extortion cases using the same method.