Three suspects have been charged with murder and detained in Kandal provincial court for questioning and investigation over allegations that they killed a villager in Kandal Steung district on Sunday.

“I have charged them with murder and I decided to imprison them temporarily for investigation,” Vong Bun Visoth, vice prosecutor of Kandal provincial court, said yesterday, adding that the three had been charged on Wednesday.

Kep Phearom, 28, Im Kla, 26, and Dam Samrach, 32, are accused of killing local resident Sam Chinda on Sunday and were arrested Monday by Kandal Steung district police.

He added that the suspects are residents of Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district and the victim lived in Kandal Steung district.

“They denied killing the victim but I have still detained them temporarily for investigation, [to determine if] more people are involved,” Vong Bun Visoth said.

A Kandal provincial police officer who declined to be named said yesterday the victim and an accomplice cut one of the suspects with a knife while they were drinking and eating in the district.

He added that numerous bystanders accused the victim of being a thief, which caused an attack on the victim with knives, axes and stones, and a chase ensued. The victim was then allegedly killed by the suspects in the ensuing fracas.