Police arrested a man in Khnat commune, in Siem Reap province’s Puok district on Friday after an electric trap he installed in his rice field to catch rats killed one villager and injured another.

District police chief Tep Pumsen identified the suspect as Yai Yoeun, 57. The two victims are siblings. Phuon Phorng, 35, died while his 21-year-old brother Phuon Pit sustained injuries.

“The suspect admitted he installed the wire and connected it to electricity surrounding his rice field, but he had no intention of hurting anyone. He only wanted to catch rats,” Pumsen said.

Minor crimes bureau chief Phoeung Chendareth said the law does not allow anyone to set up a trap like that.

Citing the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment, he said it is illegal to install electric wire in a rice field, water and other forest areas to catch animals.

“His electric wire caused a person to die and another to sustain injury. He is charged with manslaughter and is being detained temporarily for a later hearing,” Chendareth said.

Phorng’s brother-in-law Chhay Nuon told The Post on Sunday the suspect’s family tried to find a solution with the victims’ family outside the court, but to no avail.

“The suspect’s family begged us not to sue him and offered $5,000, but my younger sister and her mother-in-law did not agree,” he said.