T he rash of armed moto robberies in the capital took a new twist this week with

the arrest of a demobilized soldier on charges of attempting to take a bike by

threatening the rider with a live hand grenade.

Sieng Savuth, 29, was

picked up by a moto taxi driver in Phnom Penh, police said.

The

ex-soldier pulled out the grenade, threatened the rider and ordered him to drive

to the capital, then changed his mind and told him to drive somewhere else in

the village.

The terrified man shouted for help when he saw two policemen

and pulled up.

The policemen attempted to arrest Savuth but then backed

off when they realized he had a grenade.

Savuth finally gave himself up

after more armed police arrived at the scene.

Whin police asked about his

motive, he said: "I have no job, since I have been demobilized.