According to the Khmer Times, the August 17 raid helped free a Chinese criminal.
On 18 August, the Commissioner General of Cambodia’s National Police, General Nhat Savoun, announced that six people involved in the raid had been arrested. Although the mastermind has not been caught yet. Special forces from the General Department of the National Police of Cambodia are continuing to search for the suspects.
Earlier, on the morning of 17 August, five masked gunmen stormed a clinic in Siem Reap city to free a Chinese prisoner while he was getting dental treatment. The incident happened at around 8 a.m. at Chum Chenda Clinic, Ta Phool Village, Swe Dangkum Commune, Siem Reap City.
Five masked gunmen stormed a clinic in the city of Siem Reap to free a Chinese prisoner. Photo: Khmer Times
Siem Reap’s deputy police chief Mom Sarin told the Khmer Times that at the time, four prison guards had brought a Chinese prisoner – convicted of drug trafficking – to the clinic for dental treatment.
Five Chinese nationals brandished guns and handcuffed four prison officers, freed the prisoner, and loaded him into a waiting Lexus 330 and left the scene.
Police found the car about an hour later in a deserted area on the outskirts of the city. Inside the car are 5 pistols with silencers, 5 masks and 5 sets of gloves.
Police found the car in a deserted area on the outskirts of the city. Photo: Khmer Times
The freed prisoner was 45-year-old Chen Sin Han, said Gen Seng Samoyun, deputy director of Siem Reap Provincial Prison. Chen was jailed for 52 years after being found guilty of “drug transportation and trafficking”. He was arrested on 11 February 2009.
“This is the first time that such an incident has happened in Siem Reap province. To prevent such incidents in the future, we will strengthen security work,” – said General Samoun.
