Cambodia frees French citizen linked to China political scandal

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia says it has freed a French citizen who was detained for alleged links to China’s biggest political scandal in years.

A Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesman said today that Patrick Devillers was freed yesterday after China requested his release.

Cambodian authorities arrested Devillers on June 13 for possible links to the death in China last November of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Cambodian officials had said they detained Devillers at China’s request but needed more evidence of wrongdoing to hand him over to another country.