Khoem Dara, the suspect in a fatal grenade attack on a pre-wedding party in Kampong Thom province’s Sambo district, is expected to be sent to court today, police said yesterday, adding that the death toll from the blast had risen by one to 10.

“We have compiled the report and sent it to the prosecutor to review the case. We [preliminarily] accused him of murder,” deputy provincial police commissioner Ker Khannara said, adding that Dara could face life in prison if found guilty.

Dara was arrested on Sunday afternoon, the day after a grenade was thrown into the middle of a group of about 100 dancing partygoers.

One more of the victims succumbed to their injuries yesterday, Khannara said.

“It’s a tragedy,” he said, noting that because the victims’ families are poor, some donors and the provincial governor had donated money to them.

“Because so many people died, police are searching for anyone else involved,” he added.