Police in Ratanakkiri are investigating the murder of a 12-year-old boy, who was found tied up with his mouth taped, in his bedroom on Wednesday.

The victim, Thay Chongkim, was found by his sister at about 5:30pm at their home in O’Chum district, district deputy police chief Nuon Mul said yesterday.

Chongkim’s 23-year-old sister discovered the gruesome scene when she returned from work at a farm, Mul said.

“When I entered the house, I saw my brother tied up like an animal,” she said in a statement to police. “His arms and legs were bound together, and his neck was tied up and hanged from the window bar; his mouth was masked tightly.”

Chongkim’s murder occurred during a visit home from Phnom Penh, where he lives with relatives and attends school, his father, Chhor Thay, 50, said yesterday.

The 12-year-old’s body has been taken to Kampong Cham province’s Chamkar Leu district for a traditional funeral, family members said.

Police are currently poring over evidence, but so far, have found no leads, said O’Chum district police chief Lak Lai.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that a family member could be the culprit.

“Now the authorities are checking data from the four security cameras at the victim’s house,” Lai said. “But we have not got any evidence yet.”