950816

100 of Interpol's

most-wanted

criminals hiding

in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH: At least 100 of the world's most-wanted criminals are believed to be hiding in Cambodia, taking advantage of the country's fledgling legal system and ineffectiveness in fighting crime, it was reported on Wednesday.

Citing an unidentified Interpol officials based here, the Cambodia Daily reported that the influx of criminals, mainly from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Thailand and Europe, could lead to a surge in organized crime here.

"Of the 3,000 to 4,000 names provided to us by Interpol headquarters, as many as 100 are suspected of being here," the paper quoted an Interpol Cambodia official as saying.

The official said criminals thought to be in Cambodia include murderers from China, Croatia and Germany, a money launderer from Canada and a bomber and extortionist from the United States.

Others include suspects from the 1991 robbery of 21 million dollars in cash from Hong Kong's Kai Tak International Airport, the official said.

"We believe that many criminals ... come here and change their names," the official told the paper, adding that no arrests have yet been made.-AFP