A Chinese woman was rescued by authorities in Banteay Meanchey province on Saturday after allegedly being kidnapped nearly two weeks ago by four other Chinese nationals who attempted to extort her, an official said yesterday.
Ngeng Chuo, deputy director of the Interior Ministry’s penal police department, said the four Chinese nationals were arrested on Saturday at a Poipet City guesthouse, where the woman was being held.
“The four Chinese [nationals] were arrested for illegal confinement and extortion,” he said.
Local media reports said the woman had gone into deep debt at a casino in the city and was being detained until her family paid back the money.
Mr. Chuo declined to confirm those details or discuss the motive of the kidnappers.
He said the woman had been held since March 16, and that provincial authorities became aware of her plight last Monday after her husband filed a complaint with officials.
The four suspects were sent to Phnom Penh where they were still being held yesterday, Mr. Chuo said. They are due to appear at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court today, he added.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Ngeng Chuo as the deputy director of the Banteay Meanchey provincial penal police bureau. He is the deputy director of the Interior Ministry’s penal police department.
