Five Arrested in Apparent Botched Bank Job

Details are unclear as to the motives of the group, though police said it appeared they wanted to rob the bank.

24 January 2013
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - Police in Kampong Cham province arrested five individuals late Wednesday, following an apparent bank robbery that turned into an enacted hostage situation, officials said.

Police originally responded to an apparent hostage crisis, telling reporters that two drug users had seized employees of at an Acleda bank. At least 50 anti-terrorism police were dispatched to surround the bank, and police said earlier they had provided a small pouch of methamphetamines to meet the demands of the so-called hostage takers.

In the end, however, police said that five individuals found inside the bank and subsequently arrested were working in cooperation with each other. A suspected bank employee, also arrested at the site, was named as the “ringleader” by police.

Details are unclear as to the motives of the group, though police said it appeared they wanted to rob the bank. A bank official said no money is missing.

The suspects remained in police custody under questioning late Monday.