Svay Rieng: Two brothers, aged 9 and 14, are not to be held liable for the death of their four-year-old cousin. She died after having a phone charger wrapped around her neck. Police say the cousins were fighting in the lead-up to the tragedy, and say proper parental supervision would have prevented the little girl’s death.

A squabble between children, leading to the tragic death of a four-year-old girl in Svay Rieng’s Naraten Village. Two brothers, aged nine and 14 years were initially held liable, but police say, given their age, they cannot be arrested or charged. They need their parent’s supervision.

Svay Chrum District Police Inspectorate, Colonel Pin Sam An, says that the girl was strangled on Monday during a fight with her cousins. She’d been left in the care of her aunt by her mother, who works at a garment factory in Bavet. Found unresponsive by her aunt, the girl was rushed to hospital but died shortly after arrival. A forensic examination revealed bruises on different parts of her body, leading to the investigation by police.

Cambodian children’s law prohibits the arrest of minors under 14. The children will be counselled, while police have stressed just how important adult supervision is, most especially while schools remain closed.