A MAN accused of raping at least one girl and killing her older sister in Kampong Chhnang province has been arrested and his case sent to court for further investigation, police officials said Tuesday.

"We sent the suspect to the provincial court Sunday for allegedly raping a 7-year-old girl. ... We also suspect the man may be involved in the murder of her older sister on May 17, but the man has only confessed to raping the younger sister," said Prak Sao Ny, chief of Kampong

Chhnang provincial Anti-human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Bureau Police.

She added the case had been handed over to the province's serious crime unit, which was now investigating the incident.

According to Sam Chankea, provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc, the rape of the younger sister occurred while the suspect, a neighbour, helped search for the older girl, who was lost in their commune in Samaki Meanchey district.

When the older girl's body was found two days later in a nearby forest, police arrested the neighbour in connection with both crimes.