The Svay Rieng Provincial Court has ordered that 27 Chinese nationals be placed in pre-trial detention in a case involving conspiracy, online scams, violating the integrity of a corpse and drug use, in Bavet town, Svay Rieng province.
According to a February 23 press release from the court, officers from the Bavet Administrative Police Post raided a villa in Bavet Leu village, Bavet commune, on February 10, shortly after local residents discovered a corpse wrapped in black plastic bags dumped on the side of the road in the same neighbourhood.
During the raid, officials identified 26 Chinese, 25 men and 1 woman, as suspects in an online scam operation. They also seized eight computers as evidence, along with clues linking the victim to the villa. They also seized the vehicle that was used to dump the body.
It was unclear when the additional suspect was detained.
The suspects were sent to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court on February 15.
After questioning them and examining the evidence, an investigating judge ordered all 27 suspects placed in pre-trial detention. The authorities are reportedly searching for two other Chinese nationals who are currently on the run.
