Svay Rieng police have re-arrested five Vietnamese nationals accused of being involved in online scams, including illegal confinement and drug-related offenses, and a woman who allegedly helped them escape, and a Cambodian man on Tuesday, after a bold attempt to flee detention. A civil society group has called for thorough investigation.
A video footage, which has gone viral, showed a group of six attempting a dramatic escape while exchanging gunfire with the police as they alighted a truck at the Svay Rieng Provincial Court.
One of the detainees walked up to a woman in a mask and black uniform, and was seen taking a gun from her, and immediately started shooting at the police while they tried to flee. No injuries were reported.
One man was recaptured after a chase along with a Cambodian detainee, whom prison officials transported to the court, according to General Department of Prisons spokesperson Kheang Sonadin. The rest of the four men and the woman, said to be an accomplice, were caught a few hours later.
“The six defendants were charged with drug crime, illegal possession of weapons and confinements,” Sonadin said, adding that they were placed in pretrial detention in January 2025.
NGO rights group Licadho operations director Am Sam Ath called on police to thoroughly investigate the case and strengthen the security risks management of prison
“This case should be a lesson in the management and security of detainees. There must be a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and ensure legal action is taken,” he said.
He recalled a previous incident involving a Taiwanese prisoner convicted of drug trafficking who escaped while receiving dental care in Siem Reap province.
Svay Rieng court spokesperson Lay Songheng briefly said that police are working on the case, declining to comment further.
Several police officials, including prison director Kong Sam Ath and Bavet city police officer Em Sovannarith, declined to comment.
In addition, Svay Rieng provincial police chief Pech Virak, National Police spokesperson Chhay Kim Khoeun, Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak and Men Eng, deputy provincial governor and spokesperson, could not be reached for comment.
