Two female staff of an internet shop will be sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday for involvement in operating an illegal gambling outlet in village 13, Boeung Kak II commune, in Tuol Kork district.

Tuol Kork district police chief Sok Heng said on Tuesday that upon obtaining information, local police, deputy district governor Tiev Sam Oeun and deputy prosecutor Riel Sophin raided the shop on Monday and arrested the two staff, aged 18 and 24, for questioning.

“The two women were directly involved in the crime as they took charge of the shop and its gambling operations. We will send the case to the court on Wednesday,” Heng said, adding that the suspects live in Phsar Thmey I commune, Daun Penh district and in Meanchey commune, Meanchey district.

Heng said a person by the name of Sim Bun Lay received permission to open an internet shop but used it as a gambling venue with a few slot machines, but no gamblers were there during the raid. The location, he said, has been temporarily shut down.

During the raid, police seized as evidence 15 motor machines, 14 CPU of computers, 14 keyboards, 14 computer mouses, a security camera, a permission letter bearing the name of Sim Bun Lay, a calculator and some gambling-related documents.

A police official, who asked not to be named, said he took part in the raid but the internet shop owner was not present. Even though the owner was not present, he cannot evade arrest forever because investigations are continuing, he said.

He continued that local authorities often educated and informed internet shop owners not to secretly operate gambling dens, but despite this, some did so. “When people lose money by gambling, they may commit crimes to get money, and so we much discourage such activities,” he said.