A woman has been arrested and charged following the stabbing death of a journalist and military official in Kandal province last week.

Pheng Nan, 30, was charged with the premeditated murder of Nuon Sopheap, 58, on Saturday and sent to pre-trial detention at Kandal Provincial Prison, according to court spokesman So Sarin. If convicted, she faces life in prison.

The victim was found dead on the floor of a room in the Samnang Nas guesthouse in Ang Snuol district last Sunday.

Sopheap was a journalist focusing on social and development issues at Pracheachun newspaper, as well as a member of the 911 Parachute Unit.

He suffered 16 stab wounds and was found missing his right index finger.

According the police report, Nan’s motive for murder was to rob the victim in order to pay for a lawyer for her husband, who is in pre-trial detention on drug charges.

Police allege that, after killing Sopheap, Nan took his Samsung phone, platinum necklace, gold ring, Honda Dream motorbike and $1,200 cash. She sold the goods for $3,000.

Preap Sopha, chief of Ang Snuol district police, said another woman, Chan Sokhim, 35, was arrested in Phnom Penh on Thursday after she “knowingly” purchased the stolen motorbike from Nan.

Sokhim faces between two and five years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million riel ($2,500).