Four teenagers accused of gang raping a 16-year-old garment worker in Takeo province appeared in the provincial court yesterday, their arrest on Tuesday coming more than a month after the crime.

The alleged rape occurred on April 13 as the victim walked home from an event in Angkor Borei district’s Roka village.

“The victim accused them of grabbing her and raping her one by one when she was walking alone at midnight after seeing a dance in the village,” said Takeo provincial police officer Captain Kong Sarith.

Police said three of the four suspects were 15 years of age, while the fourth was 14.

Deputy District Police Chief Sem Pov said the victim worked at a garment factory in Phnom Penh. The attack happened during Khmer New Year.

The victim told police she did not immediately report the incident to her family because she was embarrassed and feared reprisals from her attackers.

But when medical complications emerged last week, she informed a friend, who told her parents, who then called in police to investigate.