Three Vietnamese nationals were charged on Saturday by the Svay Rieng provincial court for illegally detaining a gambler, said police yesterday.

Sok Vesna, Bavet Town police officer, said the three Vietnamese men – Choeung Vanching, Troung Vaing Tam and Lam Yivor – were staff members at Moc Bay Casino and Hotel in Bavet town.

The trio were arrested last Tuesday for illegally detaining Nguven Yaing Thoeu, 34, who had run up a personal debt of $3,000 to the casino’s owner while gambling, he said.

“He was detained by the three suspects as an order from the casino’s boss for torture in order to force him to return the borrowed money,” he said.

The detainee subsequently attempted suicide by stabbing himself, and the suspects were arrested when they tried to take him to a private clinic.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]