Kandal provincial police are on a search for five Chinese nationals who robbed two of their compatriots of $3,000 and a mobile phone in Koh Thom district’s Sampov Poun commune early on Sunday.

Koh Thom district police chief Sim Kheang said on Monday that the robbery happened in a shop when it was raining. The police are having a hard time identifying the suspects because security camera recordings did not show their faces and car plate number clearly.

“We are having difficulties in the investigation because we do not have clear images of the suspects. The shop owner did not see the suspects’ faces too because they wore masks. The robbers used a knife, not a gun,” he said.

Local media CPC reported that the five walked into the shop and pointed a knife at the owners, robbing them of their belongings and escaping.

Separately, Preah Sihanouk provincial Military Police are questioning seven Chinese nationals after arresting them on Sunday for kidnapping and torturing 10 Chinese compatriots in Sihanoukville’s Commune I.

Authorities seized six mobile phones, 10 pairs of handcuffs, four shackles, a cleaver and two items of clothing used to cover the victims’ faces. The victims were hospitalised at the province’s referral hospital, said Preah Sihanouk Military Police commander Heng Bunty.

He declined to make further comments, referring questions to National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy. However, Hy referred the question to Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court, who led the crackdown.

Provincial Court spokesman Lim Bunheng said the suspects had not been sent to the court as they were still being questioned at the provincial Military Police station.

“Officials are questioning them to file documents to the court within 48 hours, but the deadline can be extended for another 24 hours if necessary,” he said.

Rights group Adhoc’s provincial coordinator Cheap Sotheary said crimes committed by foreigners set a bad example and he is concerned that they are having a negative impact on the local population.

“Casino staff told me that only a small number of Cambodians gamble at the casinos. Gambling creates crimes,” she said.