Body of South Korean influencer BJ Ahyeong is found in a pit as Chinese couple charged

A Chinese couple have been charged with murder after a popular South Korean influencer’s body was dumped in a pit on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

The couple, who run a medical clinic, were arrested last week after the body of BJ Ahyeong was found, according to a Cambodian police report.

Lai Wenshao, 30, and Cai Huijuan, 39, testified to police that they abandoned the woman’s body after she had seizures and died while receiving treatment at their clinic on June 4, the report said.

Prosecutor Plang Sophal told AFP that a court charged Lai and Cai on Tuesday with ‘murder accompanied by torture’. They face life imprisonment if convicted of the charge.

BJ Ahyeong was an influencer for AfreecaTV, a South Korean video streaming service, with more than 250,000 followers on Instagram.

The influencer, believed to be aged 33, had more than 250,000 followers on Instagram

Lai Wenshao and his girlfriend Cai Huijuan, above, have been charged with murder and torture

The South Korean’s body was discovered dumped in a pit on the outskirts of Phnom Penh

According to South Korean media, her real name was Byun Ah-yeong and she was 33 years old.

She posted on social media in March that she was giving up her influencer persona and was going to ‘live as a normal person for the time being’.

On Tuesday, Lim Soo-suk, spokesman for South Korea’s foreign ministry, said local authorities were investigating the ‘unfortunate incident’.

‘The foreign ministry is providing necessary consular assistance to the bereaved family in a timely manner,’ he added.