Four people die while huge crowd gathers in Phnom Penh to receive hongbao from Cambodian tycoon
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Phnom Penh – At least four people were crushed and suffocated to death on Jan 23 in Cambodia after a large crowd gathered at a local tycoon’s home to receive Lunar New Year red envelopes filled with money, the police said.
Pictures and footage shared by local media show hundreds of people pushing towards the vast gates of a mansion belonging to Mr Sok Kong – a close ally of former Cambodian leader Hun Sen – in downtown Phnom Penh.
“This morning tycoon Sok Kong gave out gifts and a lot of people came to his home, hoping to receive one,” Mr Sam Vicheka, a spokesman for the Phnom Penh Police, told AFP.
“Some elderly people with health problems fell down as they pushed to get a gift, and so far four people – two men and two women – died,” he said.
Another five people were receiving treatment at hospital, he added.
Pictures and footage shared by local media show hundreds of people pushing towards the vast gates of a mansion belonging to Mr Sok Kong.
PHOTO: AFP
It was not clear how much money was in each hongbao, which are often given out by wealthy families in Cambodia in the run-up to Lunar New Year.
Mr Sok Kong, who made his fortune in petrol and built up an entertainment and hospitality empire, is one of Cambodia’s wealthiest people.
Local media reported that the Phnom Penh governor and Mr Sok Kong had promised to give a total of 15 million riel (S$5,000) to the family of each person who had died, and around US$1,000 (S$1,360) will be given to each injured person. AFP
