Two Chinese nationals were placed in pre-trial detention on extortion charges by Banteay Meanchey provincial court on Saturday afternoon after beating four compatriots in Poipet town in an attempt to extract $1 million.

Banteay Meanchey court spokesman Sok Keobandith told The Post on Sunday that the suspects have been identified Li Ming, 28, and Peng Shuzhou, 30.

Both were arrested by Poipet Military Police on Friday after they and around 10 accomplices assaulted the four others in the January 4 extortion attempt at the Marina Casino in Poipet's Phsar Kandal commune.

“After questioning, Investigating Judge Hok Pov charged the two suspects with extorting money and ordered them to be held in pre-trial detention,” Keobandith said.

Poipet town military police commander Nuon Ninaro said the arrests came after a complaint was filed on Wednesday by Hoi Kue, 40, the owner of the Marina Casino, and three employees, Zhao Xiang, 28, Feng Yum Peng, 31, and Chen Rong, 26.

Ninaro said in the complaint, Hoi claims the suspects assaulted him in his office in an attempt to extort $1 million from him. The suspects beat him and then his three employees when they tried to intervene.

The suspects then forced him into a car which drove off with his three employees in pursuit. Hoi said he found the opportunity to jump from the car while it was moving.

He was knocked unconscious in the fall and suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Thailand for medical treatment by the employees.

Ninaro said after receiving the complaint on Thursday, a military police team arrested the two men the following day.

“The two suspects confessed that they assaulted Hoi in a bid to extort $1 million. They said they were following the orders of an 'A Che', who was behind the crime."

“They were sent to court over the intentional use of violence and extorting money,” Ninaro said.

He added that the police are seeking others involved in the crime, in particular, A Che, the alleged mastermind.