A man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of using a meat cleaver to kill his five-year-old daughter while she slept in their house in Kampong Cham province’s Dambe district, police said.

Chem Song, Kouk Srok commune police chief, identified the man as 38-year-old Hort Chea and the victim as Chea Sina, 5.

“The man has mental health problems and he had just returned home after being away for a year,” Chem Song said.

“His wife went out to find medicine for him yesterday morning and kept the children with him, but she had no idea that her husband would do something like this to his daughter.”

Chem Song said that those who knew the man had considered him to be good person who never caused problems or fought with other villagers.

“I find it hard to believe that Hort Chea killed his own daughter that he loved so much because we used to see him play with her and kiss her,” Chem Song said.

He said police arrested Hort Chea immediately after his wife told police, and he was sent to the district police office for questioning.