Five men were arrested yesterday after they were accused of stealing some 60 tonnes of processed and unprocessed rice from a mill in Battambang province’s Thma Koul district.

Officers arrested all five men yesterday morning after the mill owner filed a complaint to the police accusing the men of stealing 50 tonnes of rice that have yet to be milled and another 10 tonnes that have already been processed from his property, according to a National Police report.

The suspects were identified as Beng Radet, Sok Poch, Chhat Chhay Mora, Som Kosal and Khive Saret.

“The men are workers at the rice mill,” the report said.

“They cooperated with one another to steal a total of 60 tonnes of rice when the owner left the rice mill and allowed them to look after the rice.”

The men had to undergo questioning at the police station yesterday.

They were also sent to court on the same day.

Police officials declined to comment further.