Three youths have been charged and detained by the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court for the alleged two-day abduction and gang rape of a 13-year-old girl on August 9 and 10.

Nuon Hong, Kampong Sela district deputy police chief, said the victim, a high school student, had asked two female friends to take her to meet two boys she knew through Facebook.

“She got on [the boys’] moto without telling her friends where they went,” Hong said, adding that the victim’s mother notified police after asking the friends where her daughter was.

Police reportedly used a suspect’s phone number provided by one of the friends to find the victim.

“We asked the two girls to help and call the suspect,” Hong said.

Authorities were unable to provide names but said the suspects are 15 to 17 years old.

Five were initially arrested, but two were released after police determined they were not involved, and authorities are still searching for one more.

Pen Kanhan, provincial deputy police chief, said the victim had been hospitalised and referred to the provincial Social Affairs Department for help.