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Woman found in ice cooler was murdered over debt, suspect claims

Kandal provincial police question Soeu Sopheng (centre) over the murder of a woman whose body was found in an ice cooler last Friday. Facebook
Kandal provincial police question Soeu Sopheng (centre) over the murder of a woman whose body was found in an ice cooler last Friday. Facebook

Woman found in ice cooler was murdered over debt, suspect claims

A man who confessed to killing a woman and stuffing her body into an ice cooler in Kandal province told police that he did so because of a $2,000 gambling debt.

During a re-enactment of the crime on Monday, Soeu Sopheng, 31, showed police how he wired the bathroom in his house to electrocute the victim as she showered before stabbing her to death. He then showed police how he sold the victim’s motorbike, bought an ice cooler, put her body inside and drove to the bridge.

Kandal Provincial Police Chief Eav Chamreoun said Sopheng, a phone repairman in Sen Sok district’s Phnom Penh Thmey commune, will be sent to Kandal Provincial Court on Tuesday and is expected to be charged with premeditated murder.

Two other suspects arrested on Sunday – Sopheng’s brother and wife – were released later that day after questioning. One other man has been arrested for receiving stolen goods after he allegedly bought the victim’s motorbike.

The victim, Yoeun Theany, 29, of Kampong Cham province, had moved back to Cambodia from South Korea about a year ago, Chamroeun said.

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