An unidentified man whose body was found tied to four large rocks in a river in Phluk commune on Monday may have been murdered, according to Stung Treng provincial police’s preliminary investigation.

Serious crime office chief Duong Sivutha told The Post on Tuesday that while the deceased’s identity had not been determined, the police had decided to bury the recovered remains.

He added that a search attempt for the man’s family members is underway.

“Each of the rocks that were tied to the man’s arms, legs and waist were as big as a thigh of a human,” he said, adding that the lightness of the rocks caused the body to float.

It wasn’t known where the body had floated from, Sivutha added.

He said a post-mortem examination showed a heavy blow to the back of his skull with a rounded object. The body did not show any sign of injury. “The preliminary conclusion is that the man was murdered.”

After the autopsy, Sivutha said provincial court deputy prosecutor Vong Savath had allowed the police to bury the deceased’s remains and undertake a search for the man’s family members.

He added that an inquiry will be carried out to ascertain the cause and the perpetrators behind the murder.