Following two deaths earlier this week, two more women died over the past two days after drinking a deadly rice wine brew in Kratie province, while the provincial court on Thursday began questioning the man accused of producing the wine, a police official said on Thursday.
Oum Phy, deputy provincial police chief, said Choy Saly, 31, died en route to Calmette Hospital at around 7 p.m. Wednesday night and Lay Say, 33, died at the hospital at around 1 a.m. on Thursday morning after they both consumed the wine.
The latest deaths come after Prolung Thoeun, 34, and Korn Saroeun, 26, died on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, after drinking the wine.
Another 10 women were being treated at hospitals in Phnom Penh and Kratie on Thursday, with some still in serious condition, Mr. Phy said. Sa Reth, 60, who brewed the wine, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and was questioned at the provincial court on Thursday, he added.
“Police sent Mr. Reth for questioning because people who drank his wine died and more people fell ill,” he said.
