Five people were charged with murder today in connection with a gruesome triple homicide that occurred on January 10 in Siem Reap province, said Nhim Sila, deputy chief of the Siem Reap military police.

Following a lengthy police investigation, the suspects were arrested on Tuesday in Siem Reap town.

“All five were charged with three counts of premeditated murder,” Nhim Sila said.

“According to the Cambodian criminal code, if found guilty each will face at least 20 years in prison.”

He added that the victims  – Eng Ly, female, 71, Eng Mouygech, 60, and Oak Sreyneang, 20 – appeared to have been brutalised before the murders.

Two were raped and all three had their throats cut with a cleaver.

The murder weapon was the only evidence found at the scene.

At the time of the murder, Siem Reap town police chief Thoeung Chantharith described It as “the most cruel murder” he had seen in 10 years on the job.

Nhim Sila said police believed the murders were the result of a property dispute.

“According to our investigation, the suspects and victims had been arguing over land and property ownership in Sala Kamroeuk commune before the murders took place,” he said.

The five suspects detained at Siem Reap provincial prison pending trial are Chorn Cheat, 30, Heng Bunsom, 21, Nhanh Bunheang, 16, Tong Thnoat, 22, and Prom Sothy, 33.

A sixth suspect, Neng Moeun, 25, was arrested by police on January 18, but has since been released.