Authorities in Prek Svay village of Preah Sihanouk province’s Koh Rong commune and town suspect a fire that caused injuries to at least four people around 2:30am on August 8 was arson and anyone apprehended for the crime could also potentially face charges of attempted murder.

Koh Rong town governor Nuon Bunthol told The Post that three of the four victims – including a seven-year-old boy – had burns all over their bodies and only survived because they were rescued by Koh Rong town police in cooperation with the rescue team from GTVC Speedboat Cambodia, owned by Tea Vichet, a businessman who holds the honorific Oknha.

The four victims were sent to Preah Sihanouk Provincial Referral Hospital for treatment.

“According to the investigation at the scene of the fire and the evidence that we found, it was not accidental or due to negligence and it may be an act of attempted murder,” Bunthol said.

According to Bunthol, the fire did not burn down the house made of wood with a zinc roof entirely, but the contents of the home like mattresses, pillows and mosquito nets were all scorched and police found a litre bottle of gasoline on top of a burning mattress, leading them to the conclusion that it was a fire set with the intention of murdering the four occupants.

One of the victims, Kim Kuon, 45, who suffered burns to one side of her back, later told The Post that the fire was set by her third husband, Keo Chhloun, 51. She said that he tried to burn her, their grandson and a son-in-law to death along with himself.

“I have dealt with so many things with him and I was even beaten by him. He never changed for the better. Instead he poured gasoline on us and set fire to us to kill his wife and children in the middle of the night,” she said.

Kuon is currently being treated at Chamkar Chek referral hospital in Preah Sihanouk province. She called on the authorities to arrest Chhloun and seek justice for her and her children.

Koh Rong town police chief Heng Kim An told The Post that the police had arrested Chhloun – who suffered only mild injuries to one leg – and are currently questioning him, but he has not confessed thus far despite the fact that his wife and children have accused him of the crime.

“At this time, our authorities have not firmly concluded what exactly caused [the fire] and have not yet decided whether to charge any suspects as we haven’t finished gathering all of the evidence,” he said.

Neng Leng, 38, the father of victim Leng Somanady, 7, told The Post that he would file a lawsuit against his father-in-law, Chhloun, to seek justice for his family members.

“In this case, I believe there is no one [to blame] but my father-in-law. I will file a lawsuit against him accusing him of attempting to kill my son, my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law,” he said.

Leng also said that his son had regained consciousness, but his injuries were severe with burns to nearly his entire body, and that his brother-in-law, Khuy Prakan, 21, is in as gravely serious condition as his son.