The Kratie provincial court on Sunday received a case against a man accused of raping a minor, following his arrest on Friday, said the deputy police chief in charge of juvenile protection, Nov Ratana.

Fifty-six-year-old Nhim Vannda, also known as “Nhorm”, raped a seven-year-old girl outside their village in Kratie’s Svay Chreah commune in Snuol district, he said.

“The documents have been forwarded to the prosecutor and investigating judge who will interrogate the suspect before they decide whether or not he would be imprisoned,” Ratana added.

The suspect was fishing when he saw three girls taking a bath at a nearby creek, district police chief Chan Sokim said, recounting the moments before the incident.

He chased the other two off, leaving him and the victim alone. After raping the girl, Nhorm threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident.

The suspect then confessed to the police but was not immediately arrested until the latter received a complaint from the victim’s parents several hours later.