A man was shot and seriously injured during an armed robbery in Kampong Speu province on Saturday, with police efforts to identify his three assailants hampered by the fact the victim remains unconscious in hospital.

The trio reportedly entered the property of 32-year-old Seung Bunhorn in Kiri Raksmey village, Phnom Sruoch district, at around 7pm and shot him from behind, before making off with $200 and 4 million riel (about $1,000) in cash.

“It is hard for our officers to target the suspects since the victim is unconscious,” said Phnom Sruoch district police chief Say Bunthorn.

Bunhorn had been at home with his sister-in-law when the robbers entered and reportedly threatened to shoot the woman unless he handed over money. But when Bunhorn attempted to flee, one of the attackers shot him in the buttock, and he collapsed unconscious.

The three then gathered what cash they could find and fled. The sister-in-law was not reported to have been injured.

Kampong Speu officials said yesterday provincial police chief Sorm Bora had attended the crime scene personally, but that little evidence had so far been recovered.