Five held for kidnapping, torturing Chinese woman

PREAH Sihanouk provincial Military Police arrested five Chinese nationals on Tuesday for kidnapping, confining, and torturing a Chinese woman in Sihanoukville’s Commune III.

National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy, said on Wednesday that officials rescued 34-year-old Chen Guoqing who was an employee of a night club in a casino.

Hy said five suspects colluded to hold her hostage to obtain a ransom from her family back in China. “Expert Military Policemen at the provincial Justice Department are questioning the suspects and the victim to draft a report and forward it to court for legal action,” Hy said.

Provincial deputy Military Police commander Keo Sophal confirmed that Chen had been confined and tortured in a rental room.

He said a Chinese colleague of the victim had filed a complaint with the Military Police on Tuesday morning, claiming that Chen had gone missing after going out with a group of Chinese customers on Saturday evening.

After receiving the complaint, Sophal said, the Military Police immediately began investigations and arrested the suspects later that afternoon.

“Our investigation led to the arrest of the five men and the rescue of the woman. The victim was handcuffed to a table, confined and tortured by the suspects in a rental room. Many bruises were found on her body,” he said.

The authorities also seized evidence including 150 yuan ($22); 69,000 riel ($17); four Chinese passports, an automobile, two mobile phones, seven Chinese identification cards, a handbag, nine masks and money transferring machine.

Sophal could not confirm when the suspects would be sent to court.