Police in Phnom Penh on Sunday identified the suspect they arrested on Wednesday in connection with a November 6 robbery that left an off-duty soldier dead as Chinese real estate agent and ringleader Zhao Jiwey.
Two other robbers shot the soldier, who was moonlighting as a security guard, while fleeing from a mob that gave chase after they stole about $500 from a Pur Senchey district bookstore.
On Sunday, district judicial police chief Chea Sovann said Mr. Zhao had planned the robbery.
“He is the one who made the plans, like buying clothes for the robbers, making the map, getting the guns and other things,” he said.
“He went into the bookstore, came out and told the two guys to go in and rob it.”
Mr. Sovann said the suspect would be sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court today to face charges and that authorities were still searching for the two robbers.
Mr. Zhao told police that he and his accomplices knew that the bookstore owner had recently received a cash transfer from China.
