Kandal province police said a reputed drug addict had asked his mother for 30,000 riel (about $8.50) on Sunday, presumably to go score some drugs.

When she rebuffed him, however, he flew into a rage and threatened to burn the house down.

The woman’s son proved to have more follow-through than your typical drug addict, taking a half-litre of gas and tossing it on a lit stove. The woman escaped, but there was nothing bystanders could do to save the house. The son was quickly arrested. DEUM AMPIL