The body of an alleged “sorcerer” that had been partially decapitated was found yesterday in Kampong Speu’s Baset district, in what police suspect was a revenge attack for deaths blamed on his magical powers.

Som Chantha, Baset district police chief, said the victim was killed on Saturday night in Trapaing Chhouk commune.

Chantha said the victim, 55-year-old divorcee Khiev Porn, was a traditional healer. His wife had married two men after him, but both had died from illness, along with several other people in the village.

“We are the police, so we cannot conclude that the victim was killed because he was a sorcerer, but we can see this was a revenge-driven murder. The victim’s body has no head,” he said.

In Takeo’s Prey Kabbas district, an alleged sorcerer also accused of making other villagers fall ill was attacked viciously by fellow villagers on Friday, according to police, though he fought back and survived.