Authorities have detained five Chinese nationals for questioning following the brutal slaying of a Chinese woman at her apartment in Phnom Penh’s Pur Senchey district on Sunday evening, police said on Monday.
Chen Huaying, 25, was hacked and stabbed to death at about 6 p.m. on Sunday in her bedroom at an apartment in the Borey New Town housing development, according to deputy district police chief Touch Phon.
“The victim had about six to nine injuries on her neck after being hacked with a cleaver and one large wound in her stomach after being stabbed by a knife,” Mr. Phon said, adding that investigators had found the bloody cleaver and knife at the crime scene.
“We assume that it was intentional murder because the victim’s room had no kitchen, so the victim did not have a cleaver,” he said.
Chen Huaying’s body was found at about 6:30 p.m. by two Chinese nationals who shared the apartment with the victim, Mr. Phon said, adding that the pair was subsequently detained for questioning along with three other Chinese housemates.
“We believe the killer is one of the five detainees,” he said, adding that the suspects were being held at the district police station.
“Today we questioned them until late and are not finished yet. We will continue to question them tomorrow.”
Contacted on Monday, Pur Senchey district governor Hem Darith explained that Borey New Town was popular among Chinese expatriates due to its location near the city’s industrial zones and factories.
Mr. Phon said that Chen Huaying had been employed at a factory, but that police did not yet know its name.
Despite the popularity of Borey New Town, Sok Tola, 35, who owns a house near the development, said the neighborhood had grown increasingly dangerous lately.
“I am concerned about my safety because here there are a lot of thieves that are always stealing things and breaking into houses,” Ms. Tola said, adding that her own home was recently burglarized.
“I went to complain face to face with the manager of Borey New Town many times, and sometimes I also called to complain about the lack of safety in Borey New Town, but there were no solutions from him,” she said.
Management at Borey New Town could not be reached.
