Chinese man in Phnom Penh held for deportation
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A Chinese national who caused a public scene in Phnom Penh on September 19 by kneeling in the street and crying out to return to China is being held at a repatriation placement centre while Cambodian authorities process his deportation. Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration said on September 20 that his urine tested positive for methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”.
Key Points
- The incident happened in Phnom Penh on September 19, when the man became emotionally agitated in public, knelt down and loudly pleaded to go back to China.
- Police responded to reports from the scene and took him to the Chinese embassy in Cambodia for coordination before further arrangements were made.
- After communication with officials, he agreed to go temporarily to a repatriation placement centre to wait for follow-up handling by the authorities.
- Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration said on September 20 that a urine drug test returned a positive result for methamphetamine, also known as “ice”.
- When questioned after regaining clarity, he said he had not been kidnapped, threatened or restricted, and that his fear of being followed was unfounded.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong and other Chinese-speaking readers, the case underlines how viral-looking distress incidents involving mainland nationals overseas may later turn out to involve drug use rather than coercion or trafficking. It also shows that Cambodian authorities are treating the matter as an immigration and public-order case, with deportation procedures already under way.