Around midnight last night, a violent robbery unfolded on the fifth floor of the Star Bay Condominium in Sihanoukville. A woman had gone to one of the apartments after being invited over for a meal, but the moment she stepped inside, a group of Chinese men grabbed her and took total control.
The victim said her attackers were brutal. They bound her hands and feet, blindfolded her, gagged her, and beat her mercilessly, even cutting off her hair during the assault. In the end, they robbed her of around $6,000 in cash she was carrying. Local media report that Sihanoukville police have launched a full investigation, though they are still working to determine the exact number of suspects involved, their identities, and the motive behind the attack.
It is a chilling snapshot of how dangerous things can turn in the coastal city late at night. Some people around here have either run completely out of money or just turned completely vicious, using something as casual as a friendly dinner invite as a lure. If you find yourself out late in Sihanoukville, keep your guard up—once that apartment door clicks shut, you never truly know whether you are stepping into a friend’s place or a den of wolves.
