Contemporaneous reports described a suspected kidnapping, abuse and extortion case in Sihanoukville between May 7 and 9, 2026. A 31-year-old Chinese man was reportedly invited by an acquaintance to meet near a casino in Sangkat 4, where suspects allegedly posing as Chinese police restrained him on the claim that he had committed an offence.
Citing the gendarmerie investigation, the reports said the victim was handcuffed, had his feet bound and was put in a large black suitcase before being taken to a villa through repeated changes of vehicle. Gendarmes said he was abused there and the suspects extorted US$50,000.
According to the reports, national gendarmerie commander Sao Sokha and Preah Sihanouk governor Mang Sineth instructed the investigation, with provincial gendarmerie commander ហេង ប៊ុនទី directing the operation. Gendarmes surrounded a villa in Sangkat 4 at 18:40 on May 9.
The reports said suspects tried to flee after becoming aware of the officers. The victim took the opportunity to run out of the villa and was rescued. Officers described him as seriously injured with multiple wounds.
The reports said gendarmes believed approximately seven to eight people were involved and had arrested four suspects: Chinese nationals LAN HUAI MIN, SHIY INGYA and ZHENG XIANG ZHU, and a Cambodian driver identified in the Chinese source as 谢杰斯达. CC-Times reported on May 15 that the four had been referred to court; that does not establish a conviction.
Reported seized evidence included seven pairs of handcuffs, iron bars, a pointed iron implement, pliers, a large black suitcase and several bloodstained items.
At the time of the reports, gendarmes were continuing to trace other people allegedly involved. The reports provided no court judgment or subsequent medical update on the victim.
An items photograph accompanying the related Khmer-language report on the same case.
