POLICE in Kandal province said yesterday that they had made one arrest in connection with a triple murder that occurred on the final day of the Pchum Ben festival in Takhmao town, though two other suspects remained at large.

Iv Chamroeun, the provincial police chief, declined to disclose the identity of the suspect for fear of compromising the investigation.

“We have arrested one suspect, but we don’t want to talk right now because the other two suspects are still at large. We are now burning our hands and legs to work on this case,” he said.

The three victims, all women, were found shot dead on the morning of October 9 in a café adjoining their home.

They were identified as 47-year-old Sok Ky; her daughter, 24-year-old Seng Muoy Kea; and a 17-year-old waitress whom police would not name.

Deputy provincial police chief Chan Savoeun said at the time that the bodies – which appeared to have been shot several times before being dragged into a bedroom and laid on a bed together – were discovered after a neighbour reported hearing gunfire at about 3.30am.

He said police did not believe the motive was robbery because jewellery was left at the scene.

He also noted that the Bopha Kampoul Phnom Restaurant and Coffee Shop, where the murders took place, was owned by Sok Ky’s sister, and that police were investigating any “internal issues” that might have led to the killings.

Roeun Nara, the deputy provincial police chief, declined to give a detailed update on the case, but did confirm that an arrest had been made.