A 25-year-old Kompong Cham woman was left unable to speak Tuesday night after her husband allegedly doused her face and body with acid in Memot district in the fourth reported acid attack of the year, police said yesterday.
According to the victim’s mother who rushed to the scene in Kompoan commune after hearing her daughter’s screams for help, Eour Thavy attacked his wife, Phaly Nai, after she refused to give him $50, police said.
“It is a jealous dispute between husband and wife,” said district police chief Keo Samneang. He added that following an argument Mr Thavy had sent Ms Nai out to wash some clothes, while he went out and purchased the acid for the attack.
While Ms Nai was taken to the provincial hospital for treatment, her husband escaped and has not yet been apprehended, Mr Samneang said.
According to statistics from the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity, Kompong Cham province has the highest number of reported acid attacks in the country since 1985.
Some 40 percent of all acid burn survivors recorded by CASC- 114 of 268 -were victims of attacks within the province. The second highest number was in Phnom Penh where 43 people survived attacks.
“We have educated the local people so that they don’t use violence against each other and their families,” said provincial police chief Nuon Samin yesterday. He added he did not believe there had been a recent increase of attacks in the province.
This morning the heads of a committee created on Jan 28 by the Interior Ministry to draft a law on acid use and distribution will meet for the first time, Meas Chan Sophal, assistant to Secretary of State Teng Savong, who leads the committee, said yesterday.
According to Mr Chan Sophal, Undersecretaries of State Sieng Lapresse and Ouk Kimlek, along with Phon Bunthal, director of the ministry’s Legislation Council were expected to attend.
