Second Lieutenant Tho Chanta, who is in one of the

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces tank units, has been arrested for the robbery of

vehicles belonging to international NGOs and embassies, Reasmey Kampuchea

reported.

The Khan Chamkamon police in association with the military

police made the arrest on March 1 as Chantha and his alleged cohorts were eating

and drinking near Wat Prayouvong in Khan Chamkamon, Phnom Penh.

Chantha

and his gang opened fire on the police, who had surrounded them. Some of the men

gave themselves up when they realized that they were caught in the trap but

others slipped through the net, the newspaper reported.

While arresting

Chantha, the police confiscated an AK rifle, a K59, a hand grenade, a white

Toyota Mark II car, a c100 motorcycle, a wrist watch, one dumlung platinum

bracelet, and one dum-lung necklace.

According to military police,

Chantha admitted he had planned four thefts of cars belonging to embassies and

international organizations. Two of the four robberies were successful, he told

police.

The first successful robbery netted an NGO's Land Cruiser on

Monivong Blvd. They sold it for $9,000. The second robbery was an embassy

official's Pajero car, conducted with four other gangsters in Sangkat Beong Keng

Kang I, Khan Chamkamon, Phnom Penh. This car was sold for $11,000, Reasmey

reported

Chantha reportedly told police that night he and four gang

members were eating and drinking in the Chouk Rath nightclub, and saw the

embassy staff there too.

They hurriedly paid the bill and drove their car

ahead to lie in ambush with their lights turned off. The gang then pulled out

guns on the occupants and stole the vehicle.

In the other two robbery

attempts, the gang lay in wait for cars to return to compounds near Psar Moin

Ang and Toul Tom-poung markets. They were foiled by guards who opened the gates

to quickly before the robbers had a chance to threaten the driver.