Khmer Rise Party president Sok Sovann Vathana Sabung, better known as William Guang, and 14 other suspects have been arrested for an armed robbery which took place on December 19 at the home of online lotion seller An Sieu Mey at the Borey Moon Town gated community in Chaom Chao I commune’s Kok Chambok village of the capital’s Por Sen Chey district.

The victim made statements to a local media outlet in the aftermath of the crime indicating that the jewellery stolen by the gang was worth nearly $2 million.

Municipal police spokesman San Sok Seiha told The Post on December 21 that after the armed robbery, his officers worked with the Military Police to identify the suspects.

He said that at 10pm on December 20, police officers spotted a car used by the suspects during the robbery. The officers then gave chase until the suspects eventually ditched the car on the roadside and attempted to escape on foot, but one of them was then found hiding in some nearby bushes.

“The officers arrested one suspect – a woman – who was found hiding in some bushes near the vehicle. The other suspect, a man, was arrested the next day at 3pm on December 21,” he said.

Seiha added that the two suspects confessed to the robbery under questioning and were held at the municipal police headquarters for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation.

Later on December 20, the municipal Military Police managed to identify the hideout of the gang of armed robbers and a raid on the premises resulted in the arrest of 13 people including William Guang, the alleged mastermind behind the plot.

According to an official report, the raid was led by municipal Military Police Commander Rath Sreang, whose forces surrounded the residence where the armed robbers were hiding in the Borey Peng Huoth gated community in Meanchey district’s Chak Angre Krom commune, located just off of Hun Sen Boulevard.

Among the 13 detained suspects, three were women.

Some of the pieces of jewellery stolen in the robbery have been recovered from the gang’s hideout, as well as four pistols and one rifle, according to the Military Police report.

Commander Sreang said on December 21 that William Guang admitted during questioning that he was responsible for plotting the robbery and leading the gang.

“The suspect, William Guang, president of the Khmer Rise Party, admitted that he led his associates to rob the lotion seller named An Sieu Mey,” he said, adding the Military Police were continuing to investigate the crime in case there are any additional suspects involved but they expect to refer those in custody to the court soon.