Sala Krao district police are questioning a suspect after he was arrested on Monday night for attempting to rape his granddaughter at a brick kiln in Pailin province’s Sala Krao commune.

District police chief Meak Sarorn on Wednesday identified the suspect as a 59-year-old brick kiln worker who lived at the kiln in the commune. The victim was 10 years old.

Police arrested the suspect after he touched the victim’s genital area with his private part, but he stopped short of penetration, according to a medical examination by a doctor at the Pailin Provincial Referral Hospital, Sarorn said.

The suspect and his granddaughter were from Takeo province and came to live in Pailin province to work as brick kiln workers a few months ago.

Around 8pm on Monday, while other workers took their rest, the brick kiln owner heard the girl scream.

The owner then called the other workers to help look for where the scream came from and caught the suspect with the girl.

The girl’s mother was resting at a factory nearby.

The owner reported the situation to the police and they arrested the suspect.

Sarorn said the suspect may be involved in other offences and is being held at the Sala Krao commune police station.