Authorities in Prey Veng province suspect two timber traders fabricated a story about a robbery at their home in order to avoid paying debts. Sok Sombo, Svay Antor district’s deputy governor, said the supposed incident happened on Tuesday night, with a woman claiming to be held at gunpoint by five men wielding three guns.
“A woman who is a wood seller in Prey Khla commune said she lost $13,000 and 150 million riel in cash [about $37,500],” Mr. Sombo said, adding he only knew the woman as “Eng.” Police began to doubt the veracity of her story when her husband, Ea Born, returned home and she drastically increased her estimate of how much money was stolen, said provincial police chief Sreng Chea.
“Based on an initial investigation, we also found out the couple owed money to a lot of people in their commune and the neighboring Komchay Mear district,” he said.
“So this case could be fabricated.” Mr. Chea declined to offer further information about the ongoing investigation.
