The Kandal Provincial Court on Tuesday put three suspects who are accused of stealing and selling motorbikes in Ang Snuol district in February, in pre-trial detention at the provincial prison.

District police first arrested the trio on Monday in Lomhach commune, a month after they had robbed a motorbike and escaped.

Provincial court spokesman So Sarin told The Post that two of the suspects, Pana Ro, 19, and Sim Vaiyu, 18, are from Poeuk commune. The last suspect, Roeurng Ratha, 20, also known as Tuy, is from Prey Puoch commune.

“Prosecutors decided to detain these three men for theft with aggravating circumstances under Article 357 of Criminal Code,” Sarin said.

According to Article 357, if convicted, the three could be imprisoned for between three and 10 years each.

District police chief Mean Samnang said the suspects confessed to their crimes and said they were part of a nine-man operation.

The suspects admitted to stealing motorbikes six different times in Ang Snuol district. The models stolen included 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Honda Dreams, Samnang said.

The suspects said they did not injure any of their victims. They would sell the stolen motorbikes and share the profits, ranging from $100 to $150 each. Once they needed more money, they would steal again, Samnang said.