Four men were arrested in Preah Vihear province on Monday after attacking a group of revelers in retaliation for insulting a prostitute at a karaoke parlor on Sunday night, resulting in the death of two Chinese nationals, an official said on Monday.
A group of seven friends—four Chinese men and three Cambodians—had just emerged from a small karaoke parlor in Chheb district’s M’lou Prey II commune when the trouble started, according to deputy district police chief Thin Theb.
Mr. Theb said one of the Chinese men had paid for sex with a woman inside and assaulted her when she allegedly shortchanged him, Mr. Theb said.
“After having sex, the Chinese man paid the karaoke girl. Then, when she did not give back his change, he slapped her,” he said, adding that the woman left the establishment after the incident.
While the seven men were walking out of the karaoke parlor themselves, Mr. Theb said, a motorbike carrying three men fell over in front of them in what appeared to be an accident. But when three members of the group moved in to help, the fallen motorists attacked them with the assistance of a fourth assailant armed with a knife.
“The suspects attacked the two victims when they tried to help them,” he said. “They attacked the group because they wanted revenge for the karaoke lady.”
Mr. Theb said the knifeman stabbed the three victims in the face while the other suspects hit them with their fists. He said one of the Chinese men died at the scene while the other succumbed to his injuries at the provincial referral hospital, where their Cambodian friend remained in critical condition.
He added that local residents informed authorities shortly after the attack, and that officers managed to arrest the four suspects just down the road from the karaoke parlor.
“The suspects are at the provincial police headquarters now,” he said, adding that he did not know the names of the victims or the suspects.
