Two Chinese human trafficking suspects were arrested in Tbong Khmum province’s Kroch Chhmar district on Sunday for allegedly attempting to recruit a 17-year-old girl to enter into an arranged marriage in China.

Major Thai Vantha, chief of the provincial anti-human trafficking police, yesterday identified the Chinese nationals as Xu Jiang, 24 – the man seeking a bride – and his mother, Ye Guaxin, 46.

The pair were arrested based on a complaint from the alleged victim’s family.

“They were human traffickers. They came directly to Tbong Khmum . . . in order to seek and choose a young Khmer bride for marriage and bring her to marry in China,” Vantha explained.

The two are expected to be sent to the provincial court for questioning today, he added.

Captain Var Sambath, deputy chief of Kroch Chhmar district police, said the two suspects were brought to Kroch Chhmar by another Khmer woman, who had herself entered into an arranged marriage in China.

According to Sambath, Ye had promised the alleged victim’s family $4,500 if she would move to China with her son. Xu, meanwhile, had courted the girl, but allegedly, after having sex with her, declared their birthdates astrologically incompatible, prompting the complaint.

Vantha said the engagement was broken off after the Khmer contact had found Xu a more a suitable bride.