Police in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district yesterday vowed to increase the number of officers patrolling the streets after two men were murdered in Prek Liep commune in the space of 36 hours.

Chan Sahouth, deputy dist-rict police chief, said 28-year-old Seng Vanny, an officer in Angkor Chey district’s military police terrorism unit, in Kampot province, had died after having his throat cut.

His body was discovered about 8:30am yesterday. “He was found dead by villagers in a land lot in the village,” Chan Sahouth said.

Police did not know how many people were involved in the murder, but investigations suggested the victim knew the perpetrators who had lured him from Kampot province to Phnom Penh, he said.

Seng Vanny’s murder came just 36 hours after a Chinese man died when his throat was cut in the same village.

Two suspects, aged 23 and 25 and believed to be friends of the victim, had been arrested and were facing murder charges, police said.

Both of the men appeared in court yesterday.