The Kandal provincial court on Friday placed a woman in pre-trial detention after she was arrested for strangling a money lender to death in Kandal Stung district’s Roka commune before she fled to Kampong Thom province.

Provincial court spokesman So Sarin said 36-year-old Sok Chantha was charged with pre-meditated murder. She faces life imprisonment if found guilty.

“Investigating Judge Pich Maren charged her under Article 200 of the Criminal Code,” he said.

Deputy Kandal provincial police chief Roeun Nara said police arrested Chantha and seized $632 along with jewellery belonging to the victim as evidence. Chantha confessed a huge debt prompted her to commit the murder. She strangled the victim with netting from a hammock before fleeing the scene with her belongings.