Military police have arrested four suspects believed to be involved in several high-profile kidnapping cases, police said Tuesday.
The arrests come less than a week after National Police Chief Hok Lundy pledged that battling kidnapping would be a priority of the new government.
Chhin Chanpor, chief of military police for Phnom Penh, said the arrests are a step toward breaking a kidnapping ring believed responsible for the abduction of Mang Yudary, president of the local Foster beer company; Chea Siemlai, owner of a money exchange shop at the Olympic Market; Singaporean businessman Sok Chhong; and construction company owner Kung Seng.
Arrested were Ou Pich, 24; Bun Heng, 21; Mochan Nary, 24; and Yurn Kong, 23.
The suspects confessed to involvement in all the kidnapping cases, Chhin Chanpor said. They are being detained in T3 prison.
The four were found Saturday in a Cambodia-Thai border town in Trat province, Thailand, by an investigative unit of military police with assistance from Thai police, Chhin Chanpor said.
Despite the arrests, kidnappings of businesspeople continue.
On Friday, the same day that Hok Lundy made the crackdown pledge, Lay Bota, 42, was abducted for a night and freed after paying a $100,000 ransom, police chief Ek Krith said Tuesday.
Police believe there are more kidnapping rings and have vowed to continue investigations.
