Phnom Penh municipal police have sent 14 Vietnamese and Chinese suspects to court after they disguised as health officials and held a Chinese national for ransom under the pretext of quarantine.
National Police spokesman Chhay Kimkhoeun said on March 27 the suspects were sent to court the previous day charged with extortion.
«We arrested them for extortion, not for impersonating health officials. It doesn't matter who they pretended to be, their main purpose was extortion. Whether they face additional charges or not depends on the court," he said.
Municipal court spokesman Kuch Kimlong said the court had not received the case file.
According to a National Police report, the suspects -- seven Chinese and seven Vietnamese nationals -- masqueraded as health officials and brought the victim from a hotel in Chamkarmon district's Tonle Bassac commune on March 20.
The suspects then confined the victim in another hotel in Prampi Makara district's Mittapheap commune before releasing him on March 23 after receiving a $30,000 ransom.
A joint force arrested the suspects at a hotel in Daun Penh district's Phsar Kandal I commune along with some evidence including a car and handcuffs, among others.
