Cambodian woman admits drowning 6-year-old girl for gold earrings

Phnom Penh - A Cambodian woman has been charged with intentional killing after she admitted drowning a 6-year-old girl to steal her gold earrings worth 45 dollars, national media reported Wednesday.

Police in the central province of Kampong Thom said 19-year-old Rok Rorn was arrested Monday and confessed to the murder.

She later took police to a rice field where she had hidden the girl's body, around a kilometre from where she claimed to have killed her.

'When it was quiet and a good moment, she lured the victim to take her earrings and then pushed her head into the river where she died,' the district's deputy police chief, Ke Kanchana, told the Cambodia Daily newspaper.

He added that Rok Rorn, who faces up to 20 years jail, had shown no remorse when confessing.

'Her face is not sad, and she doesn't feel sorry for the victim,' he said.

A human rights worker at local rights group Licadho said such crimes were not uncommon.

'These crimes happen to young children aged 3-5 every year,' said Am Sam Ath.

He advised parents to ensure they knew where their children were.

'They should not allow their young children to walk alone when they wear jewellery,' he said. 'They are a vulnerable group.'