16-2-2024 (PHNOM PENH) Chen Neng-chuan, a Taiwanese influencer known for his paranormal videos, has been arrested in Cambodia for orchestrating a hoax that captivated attention after he live-streamed what he claimed to be his dramatic escape from armed abductors in a Cambodian scam mill.
Chen, also known as Goodnight Chicken, had teased his followers on Instagram about exploring “the world’s darkest corner” in Cambodia, where he alleged many Taiwanese had been cheated and enslaved. On the night of Feb 12, he shocked fans with a live stream showing him beaten up, supposedly after escaping his captors in Sihanoukville.
However, sceptics began questioning the authenticity of the story. Internet celebrity Liu Yu used Google Maps to pinpoint Chen’s location during the alleged abduction, revealing inconsistencies in his claims. Liu discovered that instead of fleeing, Chen appeared to have circled an area by the road. Questions were also raised about the props used in the video, such as military outfits, fake guns, and fake blood, suggesting a staged production.
Chen’s tearful wife had initially reported him missing, stating that he had insisted on traveling to Cambodia alone for a shoot. However, Taiwanese police revealed that no police report was filed by Chen’s family, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not receive any request for help.
Cambodian police, on Feb 15, paraded Chen and his alleged accomplice, Taiwanese YouTuber Anow, whom they arrested for staging the abduction. Preah Sihanouk governor Kuoch Chamroeun revealed that the duo arrived in Phnom Penh on Feb 11 to live-stream fake haunted buildings but struggled to find the perfect location. They then headed to Sihanoukville to shoot Chen’s staged infiltration of scam factories.
Chen and Anow, who appeared in a recorded press conference pleading for leniency, will be tried in court and deported after serving their sentences. Governor Kuoch Chamroeun emphasized the severity of their actions, stating that forgiving them could lead to more falsehoods that tarnish Cambodia’s image.
