American ‘fugitive’ arrested in Cambodia outside of US Embassy

An American is loaded into a police vehicle outside the US Embassy after being detained for "serious crimes" committed in the States. National Police

An American citizen was arrested on request by the US Embassy in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, according to Cambodian police.

Major General Uk Hei Sela, chief of investigations at the Department of Immigration, identified the man as American Jan Sterling Hagen, and said he was arrested by municipal police for a “serious crime” committed in the US and transferred to the Immigration Department. Hei Sela did not know the exact nature of the crimes committed.

A statement on the National Police website said the 27-year-old suspect was a fugitive hiding out in Cambodia, and was arrested in front of the US Embassy.

“They knew he was in Cambodia, so they requested us to arrest him, and he was arrested [on Tuesday]. [On Wednesday], the US Embassy will come to meet him, then they will buy a plane ticket and deport him back to the US,” Hei Sela said.

Hei Sela added that the request was made by the embassy’s Regional Security Office.

The US Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Contact author: Niem Chheng

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