Police in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet City said on Thursday that they have identified the suspected perpetrator of an acid attack on Monday afternoon that left a 30-year-old woman hospitalized, and that they are looking to make an arrest as soon as possible.
The city’s police chief, Um Sophal, declined to elaborate when asked how police had narrowed their search for the as-yet-unnamed woman, who fled after dousing the victim, Taing Kimchou, with acid as she ate noodles at a market.
“We are looking to arrest the perpetrator,” he said. “She was jealous and it was because of a love affair,” he added, but declined to comment further.
Erin Bourgois, project manager at the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity, said the victim was transferred to the Children’s Surgical Center in Phnom Penh from Banteay Meanchey early Thursday.
“She is in a stable condition, and she will have surgery some time next week,” Ms. Bourgois said.
It is the second recorded acid attack this year.
