A 20-year-old Poipet man was arrested Saturday after allegedly beating his five-year-old neighbour and raping her, police said yesterday.

Men Phearom, Banteay Meanchey provincial deputy military police commander, said the suspect was set to be sent to the provincial court and charged today.

“According to the evidence and the suspect’s words, we decided to prepare the lawsuit calling for the charge of aggravated rape.”

Poipet town police said the suspect, a worker named Seourng Ra, confessed to the rape of the girl.

On Friday night, the girl was playing behind the suspect’s home when he abducted her, dragging her into his house, said Poipet town military police commander Horm Mut. When the girl screamed for help, he hit her, scaring her into silence, before raping her.

After the girl returned home, she reported the incident to her mother and was able to identify the suspect. The mother filed a complaint with the police, and the suspect was arrested in his home Saturday morning.