A seven-year-old girl was found dead in a bush in Raingtoel commune, Kandieng district in Pursat province on Wednesday evening, district police chief Un Sy said. The victim was nude with her hands and legs bound.

A 21-year-old suspect was detained in connection to the incident and taken to the district police office for questioning, Sy said.

“The victim’s grandmother and villagers supected the man who is the victim’s neighbour. Before the incident, the victim went to play in the village with that man.

“We have detained him for questioning until Thursday evening, but so far the suspect has not confessed to committing the crime,” he said.

The victim’s mother works on a cassava farm in Battambang province and her father is deceased, according to Sy.

Provincial prosecutor Kouy Kanya told The Post that the murder suspect will be held in detention for 72 hours, as per law.

“Authorities will question him further and check the crime scene to find more evidence. I do not have more details as of now as I have not received an official report yet,” Kanya said.