BANTEAY Meanchey military police are hunting for a man who illegally detained five foreigners in order to force them to pay gambling debts, officials said Thursday.

Provincial Military Police Commander Roth Sreang said three Thai nationals had been detained over the incident, but that the apparent leader of the group remained on the run.

“Three Thai accomplices were arrested, and now we are hunting for their leader,” he said.

Roth Sreang said Military Police rescued the five foreigners after raiding a property in Poipet commune’s Kbal Spean village on Sunday. The detainees – three Thais and two Chinese – were imprisoned by their creditor and his men after borrowing money to gamble in Poipet border casinos.

Banteay Meanchey provincial court prosecutor So Vath said he had questioned the three men arrested and sent a transcript of the interviews to the investigating judge. He said the men were sent to Banteay Meanchey provincial court Wednesday to be charged with colluding in an illegal detention.