Police in Pursat province are hunting a 28-year-old man over the murder of an elderly man on Sunday night, following a brutal attack in which the victim was almost decapitated and had his penis severed.

Hak Horn, 74, was found dead in his home in Bakan district at about 8am yesterday morning.

The suspect, identified as Treng Borei, had reportedly been living in the same house over the past two months, after Horn had found him homeless and taken him in.

According to Bakan district police chief Neang Vuth, the incident appears to stem from an incident earlier that day, with neighbours reporting to police that Horn had ejected Borei from the house during a drunken argument.

“Horn chased Treng Borei out his home and shouted and insulted the suspect by using the word ‘penis’,” he said.

However, Vuth said, a neighbour reported that Borei later returned sometime between 7pm and 8pm, during which time the police suspect he killed Horn before leaving on a bicycle.

Police remain on the lookout for the suspect.