The Kandal Provincial Court has placed a 35-year-old man in pre-trial detention after he was arrested for allegedly raping his 10-year-old daughter four times.

Kien Svay district police arrested the suspect on Tuesday after a complaint was filed by the victim’s mother. The alleged rapes occurred in Dei Ith commune.

District police chief Prum Samnang told The Post on Tuesday the police have completed their questioning.

“Now that we have sent the suspect to court, the case will be prosecuted,” he said.

Citing the suspect’s wife, commune police chief Choeurn Sarom said the family argued frequently and she always went to sleep at her mother’s house.

“She didn’t know her husband had raped the daughter. The girl had never told her until late last month. Still, the mother wanted to consider it with the family before filing a complaint. They decided to lodge the complaint with the police on Monday,” he said.

Police immediately brought the suspect in for questioning but he refused to confess. The girl told police in a statement she had been raped four times since 2018. She said her father threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

“Even though the suspect didn’t confess, the girl’s statement could point to his guilt. It is in the hands of the court now,” Sarom said.

Provincial court spokesman Sou Sarin confirmed on Wednesday the suspect had been charged with rape.

“He has been charged under Article 239 of the Criminal Code,” he said.

The suspect faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.