A woman who threw acid on her husband during a violent dispute in their Tbong Khmum home has been released without charge for the time being, a spokesman for the provincial prosecutor said yesterday.
Phun Sreang, 40, was released on Friday after allegedly dousing her husband, Roem Til, 53, with the corrosive liquid last Tuesday, Hak Seaklim, a spokesman for Tbong Khmum Deputy Prosecutor Pok Dara said.
“Regarding the acid throwing case, I received information that the deputy prosecutor allowed the suspect to return [home] and the case is still in his hands – whether he decides to press the charges or not, it is up to him,” Seaklim said.
Til’s daughter from his first marriage, Teal Sokhim, 26, said Sreang arrived at Til’s bedside on Saturday.
“After she was released, she came to kneel down and apologised and told us that she was wrong . . . but the word ‘sorry’ is not enough to earn forgiveness, because she would not change,” Sokhim said.
Til – the fourth acid attack victim of the year – called on authorities to release his wife last week, saying there would be no one to care for their two daughters.
Naly Pilorge, deputy director of advocacy at Licadho, said while the circumstances were tragic for the children, “what she did is still crime”.
“It’s not up . . . solely to what the victim wants. The prosecutor and/or investigating judge must treat this as a crime which includes investigation and prosecution of the offender,” she said in a message.
“Law enforcement and courts are extremely problematic in Cambodia but it still does not excuse people to hurt others and avoid facing any consequences.”
