Four men are in the custody of Sihanoukville police for the alleged March gang rape and murder of a 24-year-old woman, with authorities still searching for a fifth suspect.
The body of the woman – who was a waitress in a restaurant and originally believed by investigators to be a teenager until she was identified in late June – was found on March 13 in Commune 4.
According to Kol Phally, the deputy provincial police chief, all four of the arrested suspects are construction workers, and one is the woman’s ex-husband. They have been charged with aggravated murder, he said.
“We believe that he [the husband] was one of the principals who lured her there,” said Jim McCabe, director of the Child Protection Unit, which helped police with the case because the victim was originally believed to be a minor.
After putting a call out in March for help in identifying the victim, using the clothing found with the body, police finally caught a break in June. “A diligent investigation followed up on all possible leads,” he added, praising the work of Sihanoukville police. “It of course became easier once she had been identified.”
