Kep authorities on Wednesday arrested a 25-year-old man in connection to the brutal murder of a 7-year-old girl who was apparently killed over a pair of earrings worth about $0.60.
Famer Teng Proeun, 25, confessed to the crime, according to Poung Sokheng, Kep’s deputy provincial police chief. “After having questioned him, he confessed that he had robbed and killed the girl.”
Provincial police chief Ing Sam Ol said the suspect, who was arrested near the girl’s house, is scheduled to be sent to provincial court today. “He thought the earrings were expensive and beautiful,” Sam Ol said.
The suspect saw the girl walking along the forest and took the opportunity to rob her, Sam Ol added. He allegedly hit the girl, prompting her to cry and run, but not wanting her to reveal the robbery, he allegedly hit her again in the head. He then allegedly staged the girl’s body as if she had drowned. The girl’s body was found in a lake on Monday after she went missing Sunday.
Jim McCabe, director of the Child Protection Unit, which was involved in the case, said this kind of crime is “extremely unusual” in Kep.
