Body of Phnom Penh Security Guard Found in Sewer

Villagers in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district yesterday morning discovered the naked and bound body of a 41-year-old female security guard who was killed and possibly raped the night before on her way home from guarding a garment factory, police and the victim’s employer said.

The body of Yim Sreymom, a security guard for Cambodia Safety Patrol Agency Co Ltd, was found in a sewer around 300 meters from the Hong Meng Ta garment factory, which she was guarding, in Tuol Sangke commune, said district police chief Saom Mony.

“The victim woman died naked. Her clothes were gone and both her arms were tied behind her back,” Mr Mony said.

“We suspect the victim was lured by offenders to be raped and killed.”

However, according to Pong Savrith, deputy municipal military police chief, an examination of the victim’s body revealed that Ms Sreymom was killed as part of an unsuccessful rape attempt.

“The victim was lured by offenders to be raped but it was not successful and they killed her by tying both her arms and throwing her into the sewer,” he said. “Her vulva was not damaged.”

“We have been working on this murder since her body was found in the sewer,” he added.

Chreung Vy, section supervisor for Cambodia Security Patrol Agency, said that the victim was originally from Takeo province and only started working for the company on Feb 10.

He added that he believes she was attacked at around 10 pm on Wednesday as she was walking home from the factory.

“She was a widow with three children,” he said. “She was walking alone because there was no moto taxi at that time.”

“I very much regret that this happened,” he added.

A person answering the telephone at Hong Meng Ta garment factory did not respond to questions, claiming she could not speak English or Khmer.

Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said he was unaware of the incident, but that the attack was not related to Ms Sreymom’s work at the factory.

“It has to do with the general security of the country,” he said. “We are responsible for our safety to and from work.”

    (Additional reporting by James Welsh)

 

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