A man accused of throwing acid at his wife in Kompong Thom province after allegedly tying her up and beating her for several hours was charged on Friday by the local court.
In the second reported acid attack in as many weeks, 35-year-old Pav Kol is accused of beating his wife and then dousing her genitals with acid inside their home in Sandan district on Thursday.
Moeun May, commune police chief, said Mr. Kol was arrested the same day after tying his 24-year-old wife to a wooden pole and beating her for nine hours before grabbing the acid.
“According to the suspect, he claimed that the battery acid spilled onto his wife because she swung her arm while he was only threatening her,” Mr. May said.
Provincial Court Judge Yin Saroeun said he charged the suspect on Friday with violence committed by a spouse or partner and sent him to provincial prison for pretrial detention.
In a separate case, police in Takeo province’s Kiri Vong district said Monday that they have asked Vietnamese authorities for their help in tracking down two siblings thought to be behind an acid attack on a woman last month.
Muong Sreymom, 31, a market vendor, was reportedly left with burns to 44 percent of her body after being doused with acid. Her 2-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries to her face and one arm.
District police chief Yuk Sarath said police believe the alleged attackers—rival stallholders Deng Meas, 28, and his sister Deng Leakhena, 22—escaped to Vietnam, where they often go to trade goods.
“We are still looking for these two suspects and we have sent all related documents to the court and are just waiting for the court order,” Mr. Sarath said. “If they are in Cambodia, we will arrest them.”
He said police had also contacted authorities in Vietnam’s Kien Giang and An Giang provinces for assistance.
