Two people who were doused with gasoline and set on fire by their spouses in separate attacks on Sunday have died from their injuries, officials and relatives of the victims said yesterday.
Pich Sreyda, 20, died Wednesday evening of serious burns to her lungs, throat, head and liver in Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital, her father Pich Phan said.
On Sunday, Ms Sreyda’s husband, 30-year-old Phon Seng Huot, held her by the hair and poured gasoline into her mouth and over her head before setting her on fire at their home in Banteay Meanchey province, Poipet City governor Tri Narin said on Tuesday.
“My daughter died by cruel action to burn her alive,” Mr Phan said. “I am very sorry about her death.”
The couple’s 6-month-old baby, who was splashed with lit gasoline as Ms Sreyda struggled, remains in critical condition, Mr Phan said.
Police are still searching for Mr Huot, who escaped after the attack in Poipet’s Nimith commune, said Sim Savuth, Poipet City’s deputy police chief.
Ly Mat, 39, also died on Wednesday in Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital after suffering burns to more than 70 percent of his body when his wife attacked him at home in Kompong Cham’s Kroch Chhmar district, hospital officials said.
“In general, we cannot save victims when they have burns over 70 to 80 percent of their bodies,” said a Calmette Hospital doctor who asked not to be named, as he was not officially authorized to speak to the press.
Mr Mat’s wife, Sen Mayom, 36, poured gasoline over him as he slept in a hammock on Sunday and then set him on fire, according to Kampong Trea commune chief Khieu Pov. Shortly afterward she used a wet pillow to snuff out the flames.
Police concluded that Ms Mayom suffered from mental health problems and released her on Monday, Mr Pov said.
He added that Ms Mayom had threatened suicide when she was told of her husband’s death and was being looked after by her family.
