TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese man was murdered in Cambodia last week, and another Taiwanese man has been arrested and charged with his murder in Phnom Penh.
The suspect, a 31-year-old man surnamed Lin (林) was arrested on Wednesday (April 10) at a hotel in downtown Phnom Penh. In his hotel room, police discovered the body of the victim, a 31-year-old surnamed Liu (劉), stuffed inside a large suitcase with a bullet wound to the head, reported Cambodia China Times.
The report indicates that Liu was likely murdered by Lin on April 5 at a nearby hotel. The two allegedly had a violent argument over a debt of approximately US$54,000 (NT$1.7 million) dollars, which Lin owed to Liu.
Liu reportedly worked as a casino junket agent, attracting high-profile customers to spend money at regional casinos.
Two days after Liu’s disappearance and murder, his family members were contacted by Lin via WeChat on April 7. Lin claimed that Liu had been kidnapped, and promised his safe return in exchange for US$40,000 (NT$1.3 million).
The Cambodian authorities were allegedly able to identify and locate Lin by tracking his online correspondence. He was arrested at his hotel on April 10 and interrogated inside the room, where he reportedly confessed to shooting Liu in the temple with a pistol during their argument.
Security camera footage from both hotels captured Lin dragging the large black suitcase in which Liu’s body had been placed. In addition to finding Liu’s body, police also found a handgun and ammunition in Lin’s hotel room.
