30-12-2024 (PHNOM PENH) A grisly discovery at a Chinese-operated hotel in the border town of Poipet has sparked a major police investigation after a dismembered body was found concealed in a suitcase on Sunday.
The victim, believed to be a Chinese national between 20 and 30 years of age, was discovered after hotel staff reported a foul odour emanating from one of the rooms. Upon investigation, authorities found the body bearing multiple stab wounds, with the victim’s limbs severed and methodically packed into the luggage.
Detective Inspector Chamroeun Sok of the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police told reporters that the victim had sustained eight distinct knife wounds to the neck and torso. Investigators believe the murder occurred on 27 December, with the body remaining undiscovered for several days.
“The victim had been sharing accommodation with another Chinese national, who has since vanished from the premises,” said DI Sok. “Initial enquiries suggest an altercation between the two men preceded the murder.”
The hotel, which primarily caters to Chinese tourists in this casino-heavy border region, had registered the victim for a short-term stay. Hotel records indicate the room was booked for one to two nights.
Local authorities have launched a manhunt for the victim’s roommate, who is now the primary suspect. Police are working closely with immigration officials to prevent the suspect from crossing the border.
