A 31-year-old Kampong Cham man has been charged with raping an under-age girl over the course of five years, officials said yesterday.

Kang Meas District Police Chief So Sarith said yesterday that El Zen had been arrested following a complaint from the 11-year-old’s mother.

“She did not tell anyone or inform the police before, because he beat her and threatened to kill her if she told others,” he claimed.

“I am now looking for an organisation, through cooperation with the Social Affairs Department, to help the girl,” he added.

Kampong Cham provincial prosecutor Hout Vuthy confirmed yesterday that El Zen had been charged with rape and had been detained in the local prison for further questioning.

A date for his hearing has yet to be set.

It is the first such case in Kang Meas district, So Sarith said, adding he felt deep contempt for all paedophiles.

“Society condemns this kind of person,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, police in Kampong Cham’s Stung Trang district are searching for a man suspected of raping a 14-year-old girl.

Chea Thearith, Stung Trang district police chief, said yesterday that the man escaped after the girl’s mother filed a complaint on Monday.

The accused was named by police as 31-year-old Sary Makara.

“We know the suspect’s identity ... we are looking to arrest him. We believe he has escaped to another province,” said Chea Thearith.