Authorities in Battambang province’s Phnom Proek district are searching for a monk accused of attacking and raping a 15-year-old girl in his room at a pagoda on Monday. 

District deputy military police chief Om Chanthorn said the monk, 18-year-old Ti Kongkea, who lived at the Kiri Sangva Pich pagoda, had fled the area, but confirmed that authorities had launched a search.

“We know the home town of the suspect, and we have contacted officials there in order for an arrest to be made,” the military police chief said.

Pichr Chenda commune police chief Chea Chhy said the suspect had asked the victim to bring a glass of orange juice to his room at the pagoda on Monday afternoon.

“The suspect choked the victim’s neck until she was unconscious, he raped her and fled the scene,” the commune police chief said.

He added that the victim was believed to have been unconscious for about five hours after she was raped.

“The suspect and the victim have known each other because the victim’s house is near the pagoda,” Chea Chhy said.  

Om Chanthorn estimated there had been fewer than 10 rapes in the district this year.