A Siem Reap man has been charged with setting his wife on fire in a hammock by pouring petrol on her and lighting it.

The suspect, who was from Tbeng commune, Banteay Srei district, was allegedly jealous. Tat Kong, 45, was arrested last Friday and placed in a Siem Reap provincial prison after military police sent him to court.

Siem Reap provincial court spokesman Yin Sreang told The Post that Kong was charged by investigating Judge Sin Sangha for attempted murder under Article 200 of the Criminal Code. If found guilty, he will be sentenced to life in prison.

Banteay Srei district military police commander Ky Sambun on Monday named the victim was Chea Savy, 37. Kong is a military official at an air force regiment in Tbeng commune, Banteay Srei district, Siem Reap where he lived.

Sambun said before the incident, a man had made a phone call from Poipet town, in Banteay Meanchey province, to the woman, but the suspect picked up the phone call. The man asked for the woman by saying that she was his girlfriend.

Sambun said Kong became enraged and took a half bottle of petrol from a motorbike and poured it on the victim who was sleeping in a hammock. She received burns all over her body while the suspect also sustained injuries to his head and ear.

Military police put out the fire and took both the victim and the suspect to the hospital.

“The hammock is plastic. When it got burnt it was like a burning plastic bag falling on a human. It burned tightly to the skin,” Sambun said.

The victim was taken to Banteay Srei district referral hospital but succumbed to her injuries after spending a night there.

The suspect was also taken to the same hospital but was being guarded by military police. He was escorted back to the base to record his statement after being treated for three days, Sambun said.

“After being taken to the military base, the suspect wanted to commit suicide, but others there prevented him from doing so. When the military handed him over to me, I also kept watch on him,” Sambun said.

The suspect and the victim had children but it is not clear how many.