The Battambang Provincial Court on Wednesday charged a 22-year-old man with the rape and murder of a 77-year-old nun on Monday night at the Phnom Proek district pagoda where he lived, police said.
Provincial serious crimes police chief Seng Luch said the suspect, Sareth Kimhak, was brought to the court Wednesday afternoon following his arrest early Tuesday, when police found the “pagoda boy” wandering around drunk in his underwear.
“The deputy provincial court prosecutor, Touch Sopheakdey, charged him with rape and murder,” he said, adding that the suspect was brought to the provincial police office before being sent for pretrial detention because the investigating judge was too busy.
“The suspect had already admitted to raping and murdering the nun,” Mr. Luch said, adding that he will be questioned today.
Deputy district police chief Sareth Viseth said the elderly victim was the godmother of the chief monk, Sin Vandy, who originally invited the murder suspect to live at Wat Samdech Preah Voanaram pagoda.
Sin Vandy could not be reached for comment.
