Acid attacker at large
siblings of Savun had been arrested, but Savun, who he considered the mastermind of the attack, had fled. Police were also seeking another man, Chea Ros, 36, who was suspected of being involved.
Sophoan said the chief suspect’s sister, Savarng, claimed not to know that acid would be spilled in the ambush. “But it might be that my sister is jealous of the victim, who had an affair with her husband for years and urged her husband to divorce [my sister] and live with her,” she said, according to Sophoan.
The news comes in the week after another acid attack in which a young couple was targeted by the man’s former girlfriend, a familiar pattern in such attacks, where the perpetrator targets the face to permanently disfigure a woman embroiled in perceived infidelity.
Only three acid attacks were reported by the Post in all of last year, with four in 2015.
Last week’s case saw human rights advocates calling for a stronger enforcement of the Acid Law of 2012, which restricts the purchase and sale of the dangerous substance, while the Ministry of Social Affairs spokesman admitted no support had ever been provided to any acid victim by his ministry, despite the law’s requirement.
“As is so often the case in Cambodia, the gap between the letter of the law and its implementation remains significant,” Cambodian Center for Human Rights executive director Chak Sopheap said via email yesterday.
“In addition to ensuring an end to impunity for acid violence, and putting a stop to this heinous practice, the government has a responsibility to ensure that victims are provided with the support they need.”