THE Hong Kong investigator searching for a British backpacker missing in Cambodia since January is hoping recent defectors from the Khmer Rouge may be able to provide vital information.
Robert Brundred, 23, disappeared on the Thai-Cambodian border in the same area as two Belgians were last seen in May - a temple complex which has been closed to tourists for almost two years.
Private investigator Paul Bromberg said there was little left to be explored and it had been months since any news on Mr Brundred's disappearance had come to light.
Mr Bromberg said the best hope for determining what happened lay with several defectors from the Khmer Rouge being interviewed by Cambodian military and Interior Ministry officials.
However, he conceded the disappearance was not a priority for the Cambodian Government and said it 'could be some time' before the opportunity to show pictures of Mr Brundred to the defectors would arise.
He said if Mr Brundred had crossed into Cambodia at the Preah Vihear temple there was every chance that he had been killed by Khmer Rouge guerillas or fallen victim to the hundreds of landmines known to have been laid in the area.