The sleepy town of Prey Veng was shaken up on Wednesday night after an eminent businesswoman was killed in her home in front of her husband, children and grandchildren.

The woman, 57-year-old Lim Neang, was shot twice in her back in an apparent “revenge attack”, Prey Veng city police chief Chan Narith told the Post, while she was eating dinner in her Kampong Leav district family home.

According to the police chief, the victim owned a slew of successful businesses in the province, including the Angkor Thom pharmacy and a number of hotels around the city.

“She was a very rich and well known woman,” he said.

Narith said the murder had been carefully planned, occurring while the victim was off her guard at about 7:20pm.

He said the witnesses had not been able to identify any suspects due to the attack happening under the dark of night and the speed at which the suspect fled the scene on a motorbike.

“We don’t know how many suspects there could have been,” he said.

“This has really shocked the residents,” he said.

“We’re searching on this case and trying to arrest the accused to sentence according to the laws.”

The victim’s family could not be reached for comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lieng Sarith at [email protected]