Deputy National Police chief Thong Lim said on Thursday that the number of crimes committed by foreign nationals in Cambodia decreased by 4.54 per cent in the second quarter of this year, while the number of foreigners who were victims of crimes decreased 9.5 per cent.

Lim announced the statistics when meeting officials from various embassies in the Kingdom at the Ministry of Interior.

He said from April 20 to June 19 this year, 161 crimes were recorded as committed against foreigners, representing a year-on-year drop.

“In the second semester of last year, there were 178 cases of foreign investors and tourists who were victims of crimes, so it is a 9.5 per cent decrease.

“The victims were mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, French, British and American,” he said, adding that most of the cases occurred in Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk provinces.

Lim also said his department had recorded 84 cases of foreigners committing crimes, in which 450 people from 17 nationalities in Phnom Penh, and Preah Sihanouk and Svay Rieng provinces were arrested.

This represents a 4.54 per cent decrease in the same period last year, which saw 88 cases of foreigners committing crimes.

The foreign culprits – the majority of whom were from China, Vietnam, India, South Korea and Ukraine – had committed a combined total of 11 different offences.

Lim declined to comment further, referring questions to National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun. However, Kim Khoeun said he was waiting for more information before he could comment.