TWO wives have accused their husbands of rape following a botched drunken wife swap in Russeay Tamoan village, Bakan district, Pursat.

Set Ly, Russey Tamoan village chief, said that Chea Touch and Yea Yon forged a verbal agreement to swap wives for a night after a late night drinking binge. "The two men drank 10 bottles of grape wine and made the agreement around 11pm on Monday night."

Yea Yon's wife attempted to lodge a complaint with the Bakan district police, accusing Chea Touch of sexual assault the following day, but the police office was closed for P'chum Ben, he said.

"Yea Yon's wife has now asked for US$2,000 in compensation from Chea Touch and Chea Touch's wife has asked for US$2,500 in compensation from Yea Yon," he said.

Jail term appropriate

Eng Chhun Han, co-ordinator for the human right's organisation Licadho, said the prosecutor is questioning the two wives while the investigating judge is meets with the two husbands.

"I have requested that the court punish the two husbands with a jail term for rape," he said, adding that reconciliation is inappropriate in a case of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Sok Chan Sereyvuth decline to comment on the case.