The body of a wealthy construction store owner was found in a bag dumped on the side of the road on Monday in Kampong Chhnang province’s Samaki Meanchey district, local police reported yesterday.

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Provincial police chief Ath Ken told the Post yesterday that 53-year-old Chan Heang, the owner of a construction shop in Phnom Penh, was found dead on the side of National Road 5 in Svay commune in Kampong Chhnang province’s Samaki Meanchey district on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, authorities had discovered his burned and abandoned Land Cruiser on the same road three kilometres away from the body.

“He was killed and put into the bag, and thrown into the forest nearby the road,” Ath Ken said. “His Land Cruiser car was also burned down by the killers.”

Chan Heang’s wife, Nhim Kunthea, said that her husband had left the house on Thursday with US$3,000 in cash and wearing jewellery valued at about $17,000.

He was headed for a wedding celebration on Diamond Island, but was not heard from since.

District police chief Khem Vibol said that he suspected robbery was the main motive.

The police chief also said he believed the crime was committed by two assailants who knew Chan Heang well, and that the Land Cruiser had been burned to destroy evidence.

“So far, we cannot identify the killers. We are still working and investigating,” Khem Vibol said.

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