One of two men suspected of torturing and raping a disabled woman multiple times was caught by the police and sent to court today. The second man is still at large.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ros Savin, chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Police in Kandal province, said Thorn Sitha, 25, who was arrested, was known to the 20-year-old victim and had raped and tortured her on two occasions, the latter of which left her hospitalised.

Police made the arrest after the victim’s parents filed a complaint in Kean Svay district’s Dei Eth commune.

Police said the suspect had lured the girl to a farm in Samrong Thom village where he forcibly raped and beat her before turning her over to his friend, who continued to rape her until she lost consciousness. The victim, who suffered from polio, was found by villagers near a fish-feeding pond and sent to hospital.

“The suspect is preliminarily accused of multiple rape and serious torture. If he is found guilty, he will face a jail sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment,” Ros said.

Kong Piseth, a police officer at Dei Eith commune, said the victim first came in contact with the suspect when he mistakenly called her in November. He repeatedly called asking to meet her.

The first time they met, he locked her in his room and abused her.

“She was forcibly raped seven times,” Piseth said. “He also threatened to kill her if she told her parents or relatives about his actions.”

Police said the victim had been scared to meet Sitha again, but on the day of the second incident, had resolved to tell him to own up to his actions.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]