A 26-year-old woman was arrested in Banteay Meanchey province on Tuesday for allegedly dousing her husband with acid during a dispute, seriously disfiguring him, police said yesterday.

Tor Rachany allegedly attacked Hak Ay, 41, after he had threatened to divorce her during an argument, said Sisophon district deputy police chief Kong Koun.

“[Ay] was asleep in a hammock under the house when [Rachany] poured acid on his face and body,” Koun said. “This is the first acid attack that has ever happened in my district,” he said.

Provincial Deputy Police Commissioner Sith Luos said officers could not speak with the victim due to “disabling” injuries to his eyes and mouth.

The incident marks the first recorded attack this year, said Erin Bourgois, a program manager at the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity.

Reported acid attacks have fallen significantly. After peaking at 27 in 2010, only three were recorded last year.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AMELIA WOODSIDE