Police in Banteay Meanchey province arrested four men suspected of conspiring to rob travelers along National Route 6 during the Khmer New Year, military police officials said Monday.
Banteay Meanchey military police arrested all four suspects in Roal village, Preah Netr Preah district, along the highway from Siem Reap province to Sisophon, said Or Borin, deputy military police commander.
The men are also suspected of shooting to death a 71-year-old man and raping a woman during an April 6 robbery, Or Borin said.
“People are safe to travel along the road because we are cooperating with other competent forces to maintain security during the New Year celebration,” he said.
The arrested men are Pleng Ok, 32, Toek Tuoy, 42, Sith Chup, 41, and Sok Ann, 33, military police said. The gendarme also found two AK-47 assault rifles on them, military police said.
Or Borin said that the four men confessed that they planned to rob passengers along Route 6 of their money and possessions in the area around Kralanh district, Siem Reap province.
Earlier this month, military police Commander Sao Sokha ordered all the gendarme across the country to heighten security along National Route 6 during the Khmer New Year.
He also said previously that military police would not be able to participate in their own New Year’s celebrations until after the official holiday ended because they would be instructed to continue to work.
Security in the provinces of Siem Reap, Pursat and Kompong Cham has remained relatively quiet as people traveled to their home provinces, he said.
