A 28-year-old woman received serious facial injuries yesterday after being doused with acid, in an attack thought to have been carried out by her husband.

The couple, police said, had lived apart for several months and yesterday went to the local police station in Kampong Cham’s Ponhea Krek district in order to ask for a divorce. Krek commune police said it was not within their remit to grant divorces to couples and asked them to go to a court, officials said yesterday.

Following an argument outside the police station, victim Rorn Rith drove her motorbike home.

On her trip back, however, she was attacked with acid.

Around half a litre of the corrosive liquid hit Rorn Rith in the face, ear and shoulder.

She is now being treated at a district hospital in Ponhea Krek.

Police suspect her husband was responsible.

“Her husband came forward to her and doused her with acid, kept in a plastic [container], on her face and then he rode the motor[bike] away,” said district police chief Prak Bun Nun yesterday.

The suspect has been named as 31-year-old Srey Virak.

He added that police were searching for the husband, but feared he could have escaped to another province.

Under-secretary of state at the Interior Ministry, Ouk Kimlek, said on Sunday that a draft acid law – which is intended to regulate the sale and supply of the substance –  was set to be discussed in the plenary session of the Council of Ministers Session either later this week or in the middle of the month.