Ratanakkiri provincial police are hunting for a man who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl and attempted to murder her on May 6 in Andong Meas district’s Nhang commune.

District police chief Som Chandara told The Post on May 16 that the unidentified suspect had arrived to work as a resin tapper in the commune a few days before the incident.

“It is hard to identify the suspect because he is a not from the area. We are searching for him through the type of work he does,” he said.

He said the assailant came from another province and was acquainted with the victim’s parents. While his company was closed for a short time, he stayed at the village.

He said when the incident happened on May 6 her parents went away, leaving their daughter in the care of the next door neighbour. The suspect entered the house and found the girl alone, then persuaded her to go on a motorbike ride.

After searching for hours, parents and the neighbour found the victim lying on the forest floor with her throat cut and rushed her to the provincial referral hospital.

Deputy provincial police chief Keo Davy said on May 16 that doctors had saved the girl’s life.

“The girl is being treated at the hospital and can talk a little bit. We will try to get information from her when she can speak normally,” she said.

The police said Bun Rany Hun Sen, the wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen and president of the Cambodian Red Cross, had called on all relevant authorities to bring the offender to justice. Bun Rany also donated milled rice, noodles, canned fish, milk, clean drinking water and five million riel ($1,250) to the girl’s familiy.