Five villagers in Prey Veng’s Mesang district are on the run after being called for questioning by police on suspicion of having participated in the killing of Uong Tith, 22, who was beaten to death by a mob on Tuesday after allegedly attempting to rape a 32-year-old woman.

Tith’s body was found with lacerations and head wounds in a rice paddy in Mesang district’s Chres commune after allegedly attempting to sexually abuse Sat Yoem, whose husband is working in Thailand.

Pov Chivy, provincial deputy police chief in charge of crime, yesterday said police had summonsed the men in order to find the perpetrators in what he called a “cruel murder”, but refused to specify the names.

“We identified five people,” he said. “The people were furious [at Tith], but they don’t understand the law.”

Yoem, mother of a 5-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son, yesterday told the Post she had been at home with her children at about 6pm when Tith, clad only in his underwear and a T-shirt, embraced her from behind.

An argument ensued in which Yoem tried to convince Tith to leave and, when he refused, screamed for help.

Her brother-in-law, Sor Kork, 33, arrived and attempted to throw Tith out of the house, only to be struck on the head, resulting in stitches.

Yoem estimated that about 100 villagers ultimately converged at the scene.