Phnom Penh police Sunday began a homicide investigation after construction workers found the body of a 58-year-old Ministry of Interior official in a Russey Keo district lot.
Workers at the vacant lot near Prat Sneih lake found the body of Men Sim, a second lieutenant in the ministry’s Department of Water Borders, Toul Sangke commune Deputy Police Chief Lay Sivutha said.
Men Sim, who lived at 19 Street 27, was last seen late Saturday when an unidentified man came to his home and asked him to come to a ceremony, Lay Sivutha said. Men Sim got on the man’s red Korean motorbike and the two rode off together around 11 pm, Toul Sangke commune police Chief Khat Darasy said.
Witnesses told police they saw a small motorbike matching that description with two riders pull up near the lot around 4:30 am Sunday, Khat Darasy said. About 15 minutes later, witnesses saw a lone man riding back toward central Phnom Penh, Khat Darasy said.
There were no outward signs of violence to Men Sim’s body, but police suspect he was strangled, Khat Darasy said.
Police have not determined a motive for the killing, but do not suspect it involved robbery, Khat Darasy said. Men Sim seemed to know the man on the bike, and had left his home without any money or valuables, Khat Darasy said.
Men Sim’s family has already claimed his body and were planning a cremation today, Khat Darasy said. No one was in custody Sunday afternoon.
