A man who allegedly shot his wife dead on his step-daughter’s wedding day two weeks ago was caught on Friday afternoon and charged yesterday in Koh Kong with murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

Lay Tyro, the Koh Kong deputy provincial police chief, said suspect Seng Vibol, 53, is a construction worker and a former soldier in the army’s paratrooper unit from Smach Meanchey district’s eponymous commune.

On February 13, he said, a drunk Vibol began arguing with his wife Han Thoeun, 50, after the wedding of his step-daughter because he had not been chosen to act as the "bride-father" during the ceremony. Instead, Thoeun's ex-husband – the biological father – stood alongside his daughter. The argument culminated in Vibol allegedly retrieving an AK-47 from his days as a soldier – which it is illegal to keep – and shooting his wife.

“After two weeks fleeing, the suspect was arrested by Pursat provincial police on Friday ... in Veal Veng district,” he said.

According to Tyro, Vibol was charged by the Koh Kong Provincial Court under Article 200 of the Criminal Code for intentional murder, which can carry a life sentence, as well as the illegal possession and use of a weapon. The suspect is currently in pretrial detention at the provincial prison.