On July 31, Cambodian police sent four Chinese men suspected of kidnapping and unlawfully detaining a fellow Chinese national and demanding a US$1 million ransom to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for further judicial proceedings.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. on July 26 at a house in Krang Thnong commune, Sen Sok district, Phnom Penh. The four suspects were named as 叶胜江, 乔革资, 张维 and 李明, all Chinese nationals. The victim was identified as 李明杰, a 46-year-old Chinese man working in car sales in Phnom Penh.
According to the police investigation, the suspects and victim had met through a short-video platform in 2024 and had discussed business cooperation. On the day of the incident, one suspect used social media to invite the victim to the house, ostensibly to discuss buying edible bird’s nests. When the victim arrived by car, four suspects allegedly waiting in ambush overpowered him. Police said they tied his hands behind his back with cable ties and beat him, injuring his limbs and right eye. They also allegedly threatened him with a handgun and demanded a US$1 million ransom. When he could not pay, they took his phone and checked his bank balance.
Police said surveillance footage helped them identify a black Lexus linked to the case, and all four suspects were arrested on July 29. Officers seized the vehicle and alleged implements used in the crime, including a handgun, ammunition, a knife, plastic cable ties and a device for concealing number plates. The case has been referred to judicial authorities for further proceedings.
