Murder of Taxi Driver Kao Pha, Body Found in a Phnom Penh Canal, 2016

danielsan · #1 ● 10-14-2016, 04:40 AM

The body of Kao Pha, 48, a hire-car driver from Trapeang Damrei village in Romduol district, Svay Rieng province, was discovered at about 10.40am on Friday, October 14, 2016, in a canal behind the Canadia Industrial Park in Chaom Chau commune, Pur Senchey district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Nylon rope bound his legs, and a heavy weight attached to a rope around his waist had held him underwater. He had suffered blows to the head, and a court doctor was quoted as finding that he had probably been hit repeatedly with a large stick.

Kao Pha had departed home before dawn on October 12 for a hired run to Siem Reap. On the evening of October 15, his family identified him through clothing and a belt retained by police. His body had already been cremated because no relatives had come forward. His abandoned car was located in Romeas Haek district on October 18. Police arrested another hire-car driver from the same village on the night of October 20. Police said he confessed to killing Kao Pha in Kampong Thom province during the journey and said the victim's first wife had paid him. She was detained.