The Kandal Provincial Court on Monday charged a 16-year-old with murder for drowning her 8-year-old neighbor on Friday in order to steal the child’s gold jewelry, according to police and a court official.
Deputy provincial prosecutor Lab Laymony said the teenager had been charged for murdering a minor and faced between 15 and 30 years in prison if found guilty.
“According to Article 202 of the criminal code, she was charged with aggravated murder of the victim,” he said.
Theoun Rithy, chief of case files at the provincial penal police, said that Oeun Sopheap was sent to the provincial prison Monday at about 3 p.m.
“The suspect has been jailed just now at the Kandal Provincial Prison with the charge of murder under aggravating circumstances,” Mr. Rithy said.
On Friday, Sopheap convinced the girl, Kiet Sievly, to follow her into a rice field in Ang Snuol district’s Damnak Ampil commune, then strangled her and held her head under water until she died, according to police.
She then stole the victim’s earrings and ring, which she sold at a local market for a total of 110,000 riel, or about $27.50, police said.
