The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday continued hearings in the case of an alleged 2010 plot to rape and murder Sun Sotha, the wife of Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, and their daughter.

Chan Sokha – the maid of Khaou Chuly, Sotha’s father – testified she witnessed suspect Lay Huong and convict Seng Chanda plot the attempted rape and murder of Sotha and her daughter.

“I know the story because I [was] always with Um [Khaou Chuly] when they met to discuss the killing plot,” said Sokha, who went on to testify that Chanda promised Sok Lak, Chuly’s house guard, and Neang Sinat, Chanthol’s housemaid, that they would get $3,000 if the plot succeeded. Sokha said that Chanda made an offer to her as well.

“Boss [Chanda] told me to look for someone who I trust to rape and kill Sun Sotha and her daughter. If he could rape, that is up to him, but he must kill them,” she said, going on to implicate a man named “Rith” and adding that she was to buy sleeping pills to sedate Chanthol’s guard dogs.

Hearings are due to resume on February 25.