Three family members charged in connection with an acid attack on a woman last month were released from custody by the Kompong Speu Provincial Court after the victim withdrew her complaint, a court official said on Wednesday.
Seng Sreyla, 27, sustained burns to her face after being doused with battery acid on January 10.
The alleged initiator of the attack, Chhom Savon, 34, remained at large, but her sister was charged with intentional acts of violence and her brother and mother were charged as accomplices.
The three faced two to five years in prison.
Ms. Sreyla, who could not be reached, was reportedly romantically involved with Ms. Savon’s husband.
Deputy prosecutor Keo Sothea said the court decided to release the suspects after Ms. Sreyla withdrew her complaint.
“The acid was not a strong kind of acid.
It caused no marks and it was just like hot water,” he said.
Som Sak, chief of the provincial police’s serious crimes bureau, said he was left wondering why they had been let go.
“It seemed very strange.
They had just been arrested about a month ago.”
