An elderly man arrested for allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl committed suicide at the provincial police station in Kampot yesterday as he awaited an appearance in court.

Provincial police chief Mao Chan Makthurith said 77-year-old Buddhist layman Roth Thon was found dead by officers in a detention room at the station.

“We had prepared documents ready to send him to the court, but he hanged himself . . . We tried to save him but he died.”

Thon had been arrested the previous day after police received reports from a local family alleging that he had raped the child in his pagoda in Angkor Chey district last week during a visit there with her grandmother.

Mam Kesey, an investigator with local rights group Licadho, insisted that investigations would continue despite Thom’s death.

“Even though the suspect died, this case will still be sent to the court to find compensation for the victim,” he said.