The body of former military police commander Nou Kemsan was found riddled with bullets in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district on Saturday, district police chief Teang Chansa said yesterday.

Say Bunthorn, chief of police in Kampong Speu’s Phnom Sruoch district, where Kemsan lived, said he did not yet know the motive behind the killing.

On the day of his disappearance, Bunthorn added, Kemsan was called to bring some dried hedgehog and boar’s tusk – used as traditional medicine and protective charms, respectively – to Phnom Penh.

A Russey Keo district police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the victim had been shot seven times in the head and back, and his body was found on a plot of land in Spean Kpuors village.

The official went on to speculate that the case might have been robbery – since the victim’s belongings, including his Toyota SUV, were gone – and that the suspect and victim might have known each other.