Three teenage boys have been arrested for the rape and murder of a schoolgirl whose battered body was found dumped in a school toilet.

The shocking killing of 15-year-old Vuthy Lina happened at a school in Prek Pnov, a district of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, on Wednesday, 21st May.

Colonel Sam Vichhika, spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, named the three suspects as Sok Chansovanseng, 18, along with is friends Tien Pharet, 15, and Bo Odom, 16.

The officer emphasised that Chansovanseng, who was a close friend of the victim, was suspected of being the rapist and the killer while the others were accomplices.

The trio persuaded the girl to spend some time with them at a coffeeshop where one of the suspects spiked the victim’s drink with sleeping pills.

Officers say the trio, who were all regarded as school dropouts, then dragged the girl to a toilet block at a local primary school where they attacked and sexually assaulted her before leaving her for dead.

They also stole her telephone and a platinum necklace and although the phone was recovered when the three were arrested, the necklace had vanished.

Her body was discovered the next day by a female teacher, sparking an immediate investigation and manhunt.

Police released an image of the suspects taken from social media showing them sitting on the ground in front of officers.

All three have reportedly confessed to the crimes and are now being held in custody while the case is prepared for court.

Prek Pnov is a largely rural district on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, with many residents working in agriculture.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)