Two Vietnamese men were arrested in Svey Rieng province’s Bavet City on Monday after a man told police they had detained him for nearly two weeks after he failed to repay a $1,000 loan he blew during a gambling spree, officials said.
The two men were arrested for holding the victim hostage after he spent the borrowed money at the New World Casino in the border city, said Phann Rattana, a deputy prosecutor and spokesman at the Svay Rieng Provincial Court.
“The two Vietnamese men detained the victim to wait for the victim’s relatives to bring the money to pay it back,” Mr. Rattana said.
The victim was kept at the Samnang 999 Guesthouse from August 3 until Monday, when the guesthouse owner, suspecting the pair were holding someone, raised the alarm with authorities, Mr. Rattana said, adding that the court would continue questioning today.
Keo Kong, the city’s police chief, confirmed the arrest of Gieng Hong Ngoc, 36, and Le Phu Cuong, 27, and said the victim, Do Than Dac, 34, had been released.
