Seven men, including a commune official, a teacher and a dentist were arrested over the weekend for a string of armed robberies in Kampot province’s Toek Chhou district, police said Monday.
Em Tola, a 33-year-old dentist, Yang Sarin, 32, Loek Vanna, 27, and Tuon Vuthy, 28, were arrested Saturday, while Kuon Samnang, a 35-year-old teacher, Nhor Nhoem, 25, and a Trapaing Rapov commune environment official, Soeun Samnang, 30, were arrested Sunday, said deputy district police chief Mao Chan Makthurith.
The men later confessed to using an AK-47 assault rifle to take the money and belongings of district residents, with the latest incident reported Thursday in Trapaing Rapov commune, Mr. Chan Makthurith said, adding that the gun was not recovered.
Mr. Chan Makthurith said the men face charges of attempted murder and theft.
He declined to give details about how the robberies were carried out, but said Mr. Samnang, who is a teacher, was the group’s leader and that the men were sent to the provincial police headquarters.
“I think they are still young and using drugs and this led to the robberies,” he said.
