Police have arrested two suspects in separate murder cases in Preah Sihanouk and Battambang provinces, including a man accused of killing a Buddhist monk and burning his body, according to an October 21 statement by national police.
In Preah Sihanouk province, a 26-year-old construction worker was arrested this morning, shortly after a 22-year-old monk was allegedly hacked to death and his body burned at a pagoda in Prey Nob district.
The victim, identified as Soy Sam Ean, was a resident of Wat Putthakiri Thmor Da, also known as Wat Thmor Da Kraom, in Samrong village and commune, police said.
Preliminary investigations determined that the suspect, identified as Hoeum Sophea, attacked the monk with a machete, killing him before transporting his body to an area behind the pagoda and setting it alight with petrol.
During preliminary questioning, he allegedly confessed to the killing, citing a grudge between himself and the victim as the motive.
In a separate case, police arrested a 30-year-old man in Battambang province in connection with the alleged premeditated murder of a 32-year-old man in Kampot province on October 19.
The victim, identified as Nop Chanrith, was killed by a group of unidentified suspects at about 3pm in Techo Anlong Kmeng Leng village, Techo Aphivath commune, Chhouk district, according to the Criminal Police Department.
Following the killing, specialist officers worked with Kampot provincial police, Border Police Battalion 819 and units from Kamrieng and Sampov Loun districts in Battambang to identify the suspects and their whereabouts.
One suspect, identified as Pol Nim, was arrested on October 20 in Ou Teuk Thla village, Ta Sen commune, Kamrieng district, Battambang province.
Police said he confessed to participating in the premeditated murder, claiming the victim had stolen electrical wiring belonging to his mother and that the two had a longstanding grudge.