Police have ruled out murder in the recent death of a Cambodian man in a Sihanoukville rented room, and have concluded that the man slit his own throat with a knife.

‘Mentally ill’ man likely committed suicide in S’ville
Kim Sarom | Publication date 22 April 2020 | 22:41 ICT
A 30-year-old man who reportedly suffered from mental illness allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday at his home in Sihanoukville’s Commune IV.

The victim, a vendor named Sun Chea, was found by his landlord who looked through a window to check on him because his door was locked.

“Authorities first thought he was murdered but after investigating, they found no evidence to support that. The investigation is closed,” Preah Sihanouk provincial deputy police chief Kol Phally said.

According to the authorities, there was no space for a potential suspect to enter the victim’s room.

Commune police chief Sam Brak said according to a witness at the scene, Chea lived with two other people from Siem Reap province.

They migrated to Preah Sihanouk province for work but Chea did not work regularly because he suffered from mental illness, the witness said.

On the morning of the incident, the two roommates worked until 5:00pm.

The landlord tried to check on Chea, but found the door locked. When she found him lying on the floor in a pool of blood, she shouted, which alerted neighbours who confirmed that the victim was Chea.

The landlord reported the incident to the police, who contacted provincial police chief Chuon Narin.

Police arrived at the crime scene and cordoned it off from the public. Once expert authorities reached the scene, they removed the door and scanned the room for evidence.

“There was only him in the room and there was no entrance. It was assumed that the victim committed suicide,” Brak said.

Authorities found a blood-stained knife near Chea and identified a wound which indicated he slit his own throat.
Phnom Penh Post