BATTAMBANG: The Immigration Police Force, in cooperation with the Battambang Municipal Police, arrested two Chinese nationals for posing as Buddhist monks this week.

The two men were arrested on the morning of May 23 at the Bayon Guesthouse in Battambang City after social media users posted pictures and content concerning irregular activities of religious clerics. The posts discussed unscrupulous activities such as selling beads at fixed prices and entering people's homes without permission, which has caused concern among people in the province.

Both men were Chinese nationals in their earlier 60’s whose visas expire next week. According to the preliminary investigation, the men are not monks, yet they had been masquerading as such and have entered Cambodia several times since 2017. They recently re-entered in February and have been selling beads bought in China while dressed as Buddhist monks.

According to a source from the police, the Kampong Speu Police Department had already arrested at least one of the men in late 2018. This week, the Battambang provincial authorities transferred the men to the Department of Immigration at the Ministry of Interior to face legal charges.