A 23-year-old farmer was sent to Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court yesterday after allegedly beating and pouring flammable liquid over his 33-year-old wife in an attempt to burn her alive, a police official said yesterday.

Sath Chan, who resides in Kampong Chhnang’s Teuk Laok village in Kampong Tralach district, was arrested during the incident on Saturday morning, according to district police chief Major Hul Veasna.

“He often has disputes with his wife and beats her,” Veasna said.

“He was arrested while he was beating her and pouring engine oil on her to burn her alive,” he said.

After Chan’s arrest, Veasna added, a police search of his house uncovered hidden weapons.

“Our police checked his house and found two illegal homemade rifles,” he said.

Chan has been preliminarily charged by police with “intentional violence with aggravating circumstances” and “possession or transport of weapons and firearms without permission”.

According to the Cambodian Penal Code, if Chan is found guilty he could receive between one and three years imprisonment, Veasna said in an interview.

Kampong Chnnang Provincial Court prosecutor Ou Path could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The suspect could also not be reached for comment regarding the accusations.