The Kratie provincial prosecutor on Monday charged a man with murder after he allegedly killed his wife during an argument in Sam Phin village, in Sambor district’s Kampong Cham commune on Saturday.

Charged under Article 199 of the Criminal Code, he faces 10 to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

Chea Sopheak, deputy prosecutor and Kratie provincial court spokesman, on Monday, named the suspect as 33-year-old Chhin Sokheap.

Huoth Limheang, Kratie provincial police crime bureau chief, said jealousy was behind the killing, with Sokheap suspicious that his wife was having an affair with a man who lived nearby.

“The suspect told us that he argued with his wife after she told him she was pregnant by the neighbour and wanted a divorce. He became furious and hit his wife, killing her,” Limheang said.

Bun Chhoeun, Sambor district police chief, told The Post on Monday that the victim, Ep Pov, 50, was a widow whose children lived separately. She lived with Sokheap but they did not have children.

On Saturday, the husband argued with his wife over his suspicions she was having an affair with his cousin, who lived nearby.

During the argument he grabbed a pestle and hit the victim twice on the head, Chhoeun said.

With the pestle broken and his wife attempting to flee, Sopheak allegedly picked up the handle of a hoe and hit her twice on the back of the neck, killing her.