Two men were arrested on Saturday in Battambang for allegedly kidnapping a Thai man and attempting to extort him for 5 million baht, about $143,000, in ransom last month.

Provincial military police in Battambang and Pailin collaborated to arrest the pair after the victim, Tak Thaphoung, 46, filed a complaint on July 31.

According to Norng Vanny, director of the Pailin provincial police, the victim claimed the two suspects – Heang Sopheak, 36, and Ka Busar, 46 – deceived him with an elaborate hoax on July 11.

He claimed both posed as businessmen and lured him to Oddar Meanchey province with the prospect of inspecting 300 hectares for starting up an agro-industry plantation. But upon arrival, the suspects locked him in a small house on a cassava plantation and rang his wife, demanding a 5 million baht ransom for his safe return.

Thaphoung’s wife told the suspects her family was not wealthy, so Sopheak and Busar stole his jewellery, phone and 12,000 baht before releasing him to make his own way home.

The pair are expected to appear in court today.