The body of a four-year-old girl, believed to have been raped and murdered, was found dumped in a sack in Sihanoukville town yesterday morning.

Villagers found the sack on a path in Commune 4 of the coastal tourist town, said commune police chief Sou Simon, and later informed the authorities.

He identified the girl as local resident Ly Lika, aged four.

“Her family said that she was away from home for one day. They thought she was visiting a neighbour’s house as usual,” he said yesterday. “They are shocked.”

He added that the girl’s  bracelet was missing when she was found, leading police to conclude she may have been robbed.

Sechou Sethychot, deputy director of the provincial health department, examined the body yesterday and concluded that the girl had been sexually assaulted and later killed.

Her neck was broken, he said.

Her family said she was away from home for one day. They are shocked

It is thought her attacker washed her body to remove physical evidence of the attack.

Nub Saroen, deputy provincial police chief in Preah Sihanouk, said yesterday that authorities were investigating the case and would hunt down any suspects.

Evidence would be recorded to aid the operation, he added.

Cheap Sotheary, Adhoc coordinator in Preah Sihanouk province, said that it was the first time that a child had been raped and killed in the province.

She said the victim’s family lived in an area with a lot of rented homes that saw a high-turnover of visitors.

“The perpetrators are cruel. He or they raped, robbed and killed her,” she said.

“The suspects could be people from other provinces as lot of people come to find jobs and are living in this province,” she added.