Kandal provincial police confirmed a bizarre story yesterday out of Chrey Thum. Six of their own officers slipped into a sealed-off online scam compound to steal electrical wiring. The six are now at the Kandal provincial police headquarters undergoing questioning, though authorities have yet to release their names, ranks, or details on how they will be disciplined.
Chrey Thum is a bustling border town full of street food stalls and rental rooms. Ever since the government shut down the scam compounds, the streets have turned quiet, mostly left to the nighttime roar of motorbikes. The compound gates were locked, but the copper wire and equipment inside were still worth good money—and it turns out the cops saw it as easy pickings. Many of these seized sites are left unguarded, and while locals knew what was going on, seeing uniformed officers sneak in like thieves has become the talk of the town over morning coffee.
The incident has brought back memories of a similar case in Kampot, where dozens of police officers raided a sealed compound to steal equipment. That scandal caused a major uproar, yet little was ever heard about any real follow-up. For local media and residents, the concern is clear: if those sworn to enforce the law can break it without consequences, it leaves everyone feeling a lot less safe walking the streets at night.
