The father of an 11-year-old boy, who was brutally murdered last month in Mondulkiri province’s Koh Nhek district, was detained for questioning by provincial police to assist in its investigations.

Deputy provincial police chief Sou Sovan told The Post on Tuesday that he ordered the father to be questioned on the murder of his son, Chouch Lien, who was killed in the middle of a rice field.

Sovan said the father Chel Chouch, 34, appears to have withheld information. He did not tell the police whom he met upon returning, which his neighbours did.

“We waited for him to talk, but he seemed to not want to talk. As for evidence found at the crime scene, we cannot confirm anything yet.

“This case is not revenge because the child was only 11 years old. And it cannot be said that [the boy] had revenge issues with others,” he said.

Sovan said the family was previously accused of practising sorcery and that police wanted Chouch to reveal more information about the murder.

“He knew [something], but he tried to hide it. We suspect that sorcery is behind the murder, but this is just our initial assessment.

“We invited him to share more information with us. He knew more, but he tried to withhold it from us. Still, so far we have not accused him of committing the murder,” Sovan said.

Koh Nhek district police chief Khlout Sokhea said police detained Chouch on Tuesday and asked him to provide additional statements. They then sent him to the provincial police station.