Siem Reap provincial police are working to identify suspects after a 71-year old woman was beaten to death in a robbery-murder case on December 4 in Sotr Nikum district’s Ta Yek commune.

Ta Yek commune police chief Ey Vin told The Post that the woman was robbed while she was tending to her cows about 2km from her house.

“When her children couldn’t find her at home, they went to search for her and found her lying unconscious at about 7pm on December 4. She was seriously injured and died on the way to the hospital,” he said.

Provincial serious crimes bureau chief Duong Sokha said that as of December 7, Sotr Nikum police were still investigating the case.

“The investigation of the murder case is ongoing. The case is still being handled by the district police chief and has not been referred to the provincial police,” Sokha said.

Sotr Nikum district police chief Tep Channa declined to provide details on December 7, citing an ongoing investigation.

“I have been probing [the case] for days. If I reveal [any information to the media], it could affect the investigation,” he said, adding that the victim was heavily beaten in the head.

Channa said the victim, Moeng Tream, lived in Sotr Nikum district’s Ta Yek commune.

Police did not specify the value of her belongings that was lost.

In a separate case, Banteay Meanchey provincial police are continuing to hunt for the suspect who murdered an 82-year-old nun on November 26 at the Borom Niwes pagoda in Mongkol Borei district.