A Lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) wanted for allegedly killing his wife in Phnom Penh on Friday night has reportedly confessed to the crime after being arrested on Monday night in Preah Sihanouk province.

Authorities said Phnom Penh municipal military police working with their Preah Sihanouk provincial counterparts arrested 48-year-old Song Touch while in hiding at a friend’s home.

Or Kim An, municipal military police secretariat, said police are “collect[ing] all evidence involved with the crime, including the jewellery, moto and money that he took . . . and the axe which he used to kill [his wife]”.

Touch confessed to planning the murder of Tim Sophea, 34, for some time, according to An.

“[Touch] accused his wife of having a new lover”, and on Friday, “when his wife was sleeping he took the axe to beat [her] on both temples many times, and then he chopped her throat one time”, An said.

Afterwards Touch allegedly cremated the body, burning his face and body in the process.

Touch is preliminarily charged with premeditated murder as authorities collect evidence.