PHNOM PENH: In an audacious raid conducted by four armed robbers disguised as police robbed a tycoon of valuable jewellery and cash. The victim and her family were subjected to physical violence, with members of the family being restrained with handcuffs as the raid took place. The initial belief is, the robbery could have been caused by a live post on Facebook.

Tycoon Ean Sivmey was assaulted by four armed thieves 10:30 in the morning on Sunday in Por Senchey district, Phnom Penh.Authorities said the victim and her family of 10 people, including four boys, three girls and three little children were preparing to leave their homes to Kampong Speu, when a group of four robbers, one wearing a police uniform went to the property saying they were on official business.

One of the assailants was armed with a rifle, the other robbers all carried handguns. They handcuffed the victim and took her to the jewellery room on the first floor, which was opened and jewels emptied into a black hold all. Initial reports said the robbers took about $9 million worth of money and jewellery, but the cost was denied by the police in the afternoon, saying no damage had been assessed.

The robbery may have been provoked by the actions of one of the family members, Ean Sivmey. At 9 a.m on the same day she went live on social media to show off her jewellery on the Siv mey online shop Facebook page. It’s believed this could have spurred the robbers into action.