Three Taiwanese men and one mainland Chinese man were arrested Saturday following the discovery of a large weapons cache at a home in the Tuol Kok district of Phnom Penh.
Police discovered 11 automatic rifles, eight handguns, one M79 grenade launcher and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition in the raid on the house in Boung Kak II commune, Tuol Kok district, Municipal Police Chief Soun Chhengly said Sunday.
Police also discovered diplomatic and regular Cambodian and foreign passports bearing the Taiwanese men’s names.
According to Soun Chhengly, the arrested are Taiwanese Chan Ly, Nov Ching Chung, Li Mong In and mainland Chinese national Kong O King.
A senior government official, who did not want to be named, said Sunday one of the arrested men is allegedly a well-known Taiwanese gang boss living in Phnom Penh.
“Of course these men are gangsters. Why else would they need so many guns?” the official asked. Khuon Sophon said he could not comment on the identities of the arrested men.
Municipal Penal Police Chief Khuon Sophon said Sunday the house was raided by a joint Military and Municipal Police force. The four are in custody at the Penal Police Department and the case will be sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court Monday, Soun Chhengly said.
The discovery of arms and alleged Taiwanese gang members follows the fatal June 29 shooting of Taiwanese businessman Lee Chim Hsin in Tuol Kok district by hired killers.
But the suspects arrested Saturday are not involved in that killing, according to the official.
Police on Wednesday arrested one Taiwanese man and three Cambodian men who are suspected of the $3,000 hit on Lee.
Lee’s killing sent shock waves through the Taiwanese business community both in Phnom Penh and Taipei, with officials calling for a swift resolution of the case with subtle threats that Taiwanese investment in Cambodia could be harmed otherwise.
