A 24-year-old woman was arrested Saturday for conspiring with her boyfriend to kidnap her cousin’s daughter the day before in an effort to collect ransoms of more than $400, police said on Sunday.
The 9-year-old was kidnapped in Tbong Khmum province’s Tbong Khmum district on Friday by her second-cousin, Vorn Savy, who lived in neighboring Kompong Cham province and was close with the girl’s family, said deputy district police chief Long Sarin.
“The victim, Chem Liza, 9, was kidnapped to extort $100 at first, but the victim’s parents paid them $50,” he said, adding that Ms. Savy and her boyfriend then upped their demands.
“The second time, they demanded 1.5 million riel [about $375], leading our policemen to cooperate with the victims’ parents to arrest the kidnapper in Prey Chhor district,” he said.
The boyfriend remains at large, he added, explaining that only Ms. Savy showed up to collect money in the sting set up by police.
She is due to be sent to court today, according to Mr. Sarin.
