Second Lieutenant Tho Chanta, who is in one of the
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces tank units, has been arrested for the robbery of
vehicles belonging to international NGOs and embassies, Reasmey Kampuchea
reported.
The Khan Chamkamon police in association with the military
police made the arrest on March 1 as Chantha and his alleged cohorts were eating
and drinking near Wat Prayouvong in Khan Chamkamon, Phnom Penh.
Chantha
and his gang opened fire on the police, who had surrounded them. Some of the men
gave themselves up when they realized that they were caught in the trap but
others slipped through the net, the newspaper reported.
While arresting
Chantha, the police confiscated an AK rifle, a K59, a hand grenade, a white
Toyota Mark II car, a c100 motorcycle, a wrist watch, one dumlung platinum
bracelet, and one dum-lung necklace.
According to military police,
Chantha admitted he had planned four thefts of cars belonging to embassies and
international organizations. Two of the four robberies were successful, he told
police.
The first successful robbery netted an NGO's Land Cruiser on
Monivong Blvd. They sold it for $9,000. The second robbery was an embassy
official's Pajero car, conducted with four other gangsters in Sangkat Beong Keng
Kang I, Khan Chamkamon, Phnom Penh. This car was sold for $11,000, Reasmey
reported
Chantha reportedly told police that night he and four gang
members were eating and drinking in the Chouk Rath nightclub, and saw the
embassy staff there too.
They hurriedly paid the bill and drove their car
ahead to lie in ambush with their lights turned off. The gang then pulled out
guns on the occupants and stole the vehicle.
In the other two robbery
attempts, the gang lay in wait for cars to return to compounds near Psar Moin
Ang and Toul Tom-poung markets. They were foiled by guards who opened the gates
to quickly before the robbers had a chance to threaten the driver.
