A 23-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slashed at popular tourist spot Tonle Bati in Takeo province’s Kraing Thnong commune yesterday, with authorities yet to determine the motive behind the incident.

Chea Socheat, a contract employee with Kandal province’s tourism department, was found by shopkeepers in the Tonle Bati lake with multiple cuts to her throat, according to Takeo district police chief Ngan Sary.

Sary said Socheat came to the tourist post with another unidentified woman, who was considered a suspect. “We are now investigating the case and hope to find the suspect soon,” he added.

Sok Vantheun, a commune police officer, said that according to a shopkeeper Socheat and the suspect ordered food at one of the stilted platforms on the river before the suspect left to pick up other friends.

When the shopkeeper brought their food, he found the victim in the river, covered in blood.

The victim’s family was informed yesterday afternoon, after which they took her body back to Takhmao district in Kandal.