A woman had filed a complaint to a local NGO in Pailin province on Monday accusing a provincial official of raping her last Friday, a rights worker said yesterday.

Kong Sopheak, provincial officer for Afesip Cambodia, said  the organisation had taken the 20-year-old woman for medical testing after she informed them of the alleged rape.

“We did not file a complaint to the provincial court yet until we get the result to ascertain whether she was really raped,” she said.

Kong Sopheak said that she had asked police to question the suspect, but was unsure whether police had taken action.

“I think it is difficult with this case because the suspect knows officials,” she added.

Provincial police and local officials declined to comment.

Soam Sopha Roth, the owner of a restaurant where the alleged victim  works, said the woman had informed her of the alleged rape on Sunday.

“She tried to commit suicide by taking pills but I stopped her. Then she told me about the [alleged] rape and she said [an official] had raped her,” Soam Sopha Roth said, adding that the woman now felt afraid when people tried to speak to her.