A woman sustained serious injuries after being slashed in a domestic violence attack on Monday in Cha Ung commune, O’Chum district, Ratanakkiri province. Her husband was arrested and questioned by a provincial court on Tuesday.

O’Chum district deputy police chief Nuon Bol, who is in charge of criminal offences for the O’Chum district police, told The Post that the suspect, 39, was caught and sent to Ratanakkiri provincial court. He added that the suspect was a drug addict.

“The prosecutor is questioning him and I am also waiting for the decision from the court,” he said. A witness said the victim, Keng Nge, 33, is a Kreung ethnic minority with five children. The couple farm for a living.

Bol said the husband was known for being violent when drunk and often accused his wife of having affairs. Police had warned him about the violence but to no avail.

The incident took place around 7:30am when villagers reported yelling to the O’Chum police office. Police said they intervened as villagers said the suspect had a billhook with him. The suspect served prison time in 2017 related to fraud, Bol said.

“Officers went to the residence where the incident took place and told the suspect not to use violence but he slashed his wife in front of the police.

“I asked him if he accused his wife of having an affair, did he see it? He said he did not but insisted his wife had affairs with two to three men,” Bol said.

The victim sustained injuries to her left eyebrow, left arm, and the back of her head injuring her skull.

The victim was sent to the Ratanakkiri referral hospital but the doctor told the victim’s family to take her to Phnom Penh because her condition was too critical, Bol said, adding that: “I don’t think she will survive.”