Police have arrested a 38-year-old man after he was allegedly caught by his wife attempting to rape the couple’s 8-year-old daughter in Kandal province.

According to police, suspect Noun Ponlok was left alone with his young child at about 6am on April 18 while his wife, Pov Sreymom, left to collect duck eggs near their home in Ponhea Leu district.

Upon returning, Sreymom discovered her husband trying to force himself on their daughter and quickly intervened, hitting him on the back with the handle of a butcher’s knife three times.

Officers arrested Ponlok the following day after a complaint by the wife’s aunt, according to Ponhea Leu district police chief Doung Teng, who said the man had previously attempted a similar crime with his step-daughter.

“He also used to try to rape his wife’s daughter from her previous husband in the past, but the police did not find enough evidence and let him go,” Teng said.

“The woman has filed a request with the district chief to divorce her husband.”