Theft, Crash, Expired Visa Lead to Detention in Phnom Penh

Saturday and Sunday, January 27-28, 2007

By Prak Chan Thul
The Cambodia Daily

An elderly US national clad only in pajama pants was arrested by
police on Wednesday evening after crashing his motorcycle on Monivong
Boulevard while chasing a woman who had allegedly stolen his video
camera, police said. The man, identified by police as Michael Richard
Gainet, 65, was detained for immigration violations after it was
discovered his Cambodia visa had expired two years ago, Municipal
Foreigner Police Chief Mom Sitha said Friday. A Vietnamese woman, who
was not identified, stole Gainet's camera to recoup money he owed to
her, said Prampi Makara district's Monorom commune police chief Touk
Hoksim. "He crashed on the street. It was very messy," he added. The
fines levied on Gainet for overstaying his Cambodian visa amount to
about $3,600, Mom Sitha said. "He must be deported if he cannot afford
to pay the fine," Mom Sitha said. "We are working with the US Embassy."

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