A 29-year-old singer has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly dousing her husband, also a singer, with petrol and setting him aflame at a commune council office on Friday in Preah Sihanouk province, police said yesterday.

The couple, who made a living singing at wedding parties in the province, had gone to Veal Rinh office in Prey Nop district to begin divorce proceedings at about 7am, but the office had yet to open, Sihanoukville deputy police chief Kol Phally said.

While they were waiting for commune officials to arrive Sou Ryngoul tossed a litre of petrol on her husband, Om Socheat, 25, and then used a lighter to set him on fire, Kol Phally said.

“There was no one at the commune office, so it is easy for the suspect to attack her husband. She seemed to be a very angry woman and she could no longer endure him,” he explained.  Sou Ryngoul was charged with attempted murder by the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court on Saturday, Kol Phally said, adding that investigators concluded that the crime was premeditated.

Veal Rinh commune chief Vert Kong said the suspect had purchased a bottle of petrol from a roadside vendor before meeting her husband at the commune office. Om Socheat thought his soon-to-be ex-wife was carrying water, Vert Kong said. They began arguing as soon as they saw each other, he said.

Om Socheat is in the provincial hospital receiving treatment for second degree burns from his face to his knees, Vert Kong said, adding he was surprised by the incident because the couple did not have a history of disputes and appeared to be quite happy with each other. Police are continuing to investigate, Kol Phally said.