A husband and his mistress were arrested yesterday, three days after the wife they allegedly conspired to kill was found stabbed to death in her Meanchey district home.

Second police lieutenant Hun Sophal said Kour Lichou, 34, who was three months' pregnant, was at home with her one-year-old son when her husband killed her in her sleep at about 9:30pm on Thursday.

Sy Lou Heng, 32, and Prak Sovann Leak, 23, were arrested in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district in connection with the killing. After killing his wife in Chbar Ampov I commune, Lou Heng attempted to make the scene appear like a burglary, Sophal alleged.

“[Sy Lou Heng] collected a number of valuable things including a diamond bracelet, two diamond rings, $13,000 and many millions of riel before he escaped.”

He added that both suspects confessed and said they killed the victim because they wanted to marry and live together.

The pair face between 20 years and life imprisonment if convicted.