Two Chinese nationals murdered in Cambodia, suspects arrested

【CMHnews】Two Chinese nationals reported missing in Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk Province have been confirmed murdered, with their bodies later recovered from a river in neighboring Kandal Province, according to Cambodian police on Monday.

The victims, identified as Zhang Ruju, a 43-year-old woman, and Dong Yuanyuan, a 39-year-old man, were last seen on July 18 at a hotel in the coastal city of Sihanoukville. On July 23, their bodies were discovered in the Basaac River in Khsach Kandal district, Kandal Province. Police confirmed the victims were both killed before their bodies were disposed of in the river.

    Cambodian authorities swiftly launched a coordinated investigation involving the General Commissariat of National Police and local police units, leading to the rapid identification and tracking of suspects.

    On July 31, police arrested three Chinese male suspects near an expressway exit in Sihanoukville: Ren Jiasheng (36), Jiang Bao (48), and Ye Yiyong (age unknown). A subsequent operation on August 2 in a residential area of Phnom Penh led to the arrest of four additional Chinese nationals: Huang Yong (39), Xiong Qiang Hai (40), Chan Xing (32), and Lai Guo Qiang (48).

    All seven suspects have been transferred to the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Police Department pending further investigation and legal action.

    On the evening of August 4, the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia issued a statement expressing grave concern over the incident. The embassy urged Cambodian authorities to carry out a thorough investigation, bring the perpetrators to justice, and implement effective measures to safeguard the security of Chinese nationals in Cambodia.

    The embassy further confirmed it has formally communicated its concerns to Cambodian authorities regarding recent violent crimes targeting Chinese citizens in Phnom Penh and Kandal Province.

    Investigations into the case remain ongoing.

By Evelyn

Editor: Mo Honge

Reposting from Ecns.cn