The Siem Reap Provincial Court on Monday placed six men in pre-trial detention over the murder of a man on January 26 in Siem Reap city’s Svay Dangkum commune.

“They were charged with murder and detained in prison,” court spokesman Yin Srang said on Tuesday.

Chief of the provincial serious crimes office Duong Sokha said two of the six men were the main actors while the others were accomplices.

He identified the two as 18-year-olds Cheun Kim Chin and Nguon Theara. The victim was identified as Heng Vichay, 20.

“We questioned and sent the six suspects to the court,” Sokha said.

Siem Reap city police chief Nop Sarak said police detained two suspects who confessed they killed the victim with a scythe.

“We detained them because the victim’s family complained to us. We spent six days probing the case before arresting all of them,” Sarak said.

He said that on January 26, the accused visited a nightclub in Siem Reap city. When they were drinking, they argued with the victim and then a security guard intervened.

After that, they walked out from the club and waited for the victim. When they saw him riding a motorbike as he left the club, they pursued him on their motorbikes.

When they reached Svay Dangkum commune, they started to block the victim’s way and one of the perpetrators hit him on the head with the scythe.

Following that, another suspect used a sword to slash the victim’s back. Both then fled.

Sarak said police took the victim to Siem Reap Provincial Hospital, but because of his serious injuries, he died while being treated.

Police then launched an investigation to collect information at the scene from witnesses.

He said police confiscated two motorbikes, a sword and the scythe from the suspects.