Battambang authorities arrested up to 44 people following the mass vandalism of a Thai-owned casino on the border on Tuesday, releasing only 15 and hoping to arrest more, authorities said.
Police transferred 29 people from district police headquarters to Battambang provincial prison Wednesday, where they are awaiting charges.
The arrests stem from New Year’s fighting at a Thai dance that led to the attack on the casino early Tuesday morning, with as many as 60 people throwing stones at the façade of a main building and at police.
“They will be charged with destroying public and private property and assaulting police,” Battambang Police Chief Sar Theth told VOA Khmer Wednesday.
Those who were released were found to be bystanders, but they were lectured about good conduct in the future, Kamreang District Police Chief Chhim Kim Hong said by phone.
“We could find no wrongdoing for the 15 people, so we educated them