A Battambang man was sent to provincial court Tuesday after attacking his wife with a burning stick, in an act of domestic violence that police described Wednesday as torture.
Mov Tork, 39, told police that Nov Channy, 40, refused to hand over the $1 he wanted after spending the morning drinking with friends, said Prom Thean, bureau chief of Battambang crime police.
Suspicious that she was hoarding the money to pay debts, and long jealous of her perceived attentions to other men, he hung her by the hands in their home in Ek Phnom district’s Prek Tol village, Koh Chivieng commune, tore off her clothes and proceeded to attack her, police said.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard or seen such cruel domestic violence,” said Chea Thaun, provincial judicial deputy police chief.
Mov Tork first beat Nov Channy over the head with a broken bottle, causing serious injury, Prom Thean said. He then lit a piece of firewood, burned her breasts and legs and attempted to rape her with the burning stick, causing injury to her genitals. The couple’s small child witnessed the attack and tried unsuccessfully to help Nov Channy, Prom Thean said.
Nov Channy’s screams alerted one of her neighbors, who intervened and fought off Mov Tork while other villagers fetched district police.
The victim was first taken to the district hospital, but is now being treated at home for lack of funds, Prom Thean said.