Prek Prasap district police in Kratie province are searching for a suspect they say is responsible for setting an electric trap to catch wild animals that electrocuted a farmer last weekend.

District police chief Chan Sophalla told The Post on July 12 that Seang Sok, a 55-year-old farmer in Chroy Banteay commune, was found dead by his relatives near a lake more than 2km from the village.

Sok went out to catch fish and frogs in the fields next to the lake on July 8 and did not come home that night.

“When we examined the crime scene, the victim had burns on his body which may have been caused by electric shock from a trap set up by criminals to catch animals illegally,” he said.

According to Sophalla, the victim’s death was a case of “unintentional murder” and now police officers have investigated and identified the suspect who they believe set the electric trap that killed Sok.

“We have identified the suspect but … I don’t want to reveal his identity until he is arrested in accordance with legal procedures,” he said.

A local police officer who asked not to be named told The Post that the suspect was a resident of Prek Prasap district’s Sorb commune and had a history of criminal activity involving the use of electric traps.

He said the authorities are continuing to monitor the suspect’s activities to gather more evidence for an arrest warrant.