Police are on the hunt for a man who allegedly set fire to his ex-wife with petrol. Chaom Chao III commune police in Por Sen Chey district in Phnom Penh said the woman filed a violence complaint after the incident on Sunday.

Por Sen Chey deputy district police chief Chea Sovann on Monday identified the suspect as Vong Chansopheap, 29, and his wife as Bo Sreyneang, 29, a garment worker.

Sovann said: “We launched a search for the suspect after the victim filed a complaint to our police station upon being discharged from hospital where she was treated for the minor burns she sustained.”

He said Sreyneang informed police that the reason for the attack was her husband’s anger and suspicion that she was having a sexual affair with another man, even though they had divorced and had not lived together for a month.

Chaom Chao III commune police chief Theng Kosal said on Sunday, Sreyneang went from her rented room to Chansopheap’s to collect her clothing.

“She rode her motorcycle with her daughter and a younger sister to Chansopheap’s rented room in Prey Pring Khang Choeung I village in Chaom Chao III, where they previously lived. Upon seeing his ex-wife, Chansopheap accused her of having a sexual affair with another man.

“He then grabbed a litre of petrol, poured it on Sreyneang and set it on fire. He then took his money and phone and fled the scene,” Kosal said.

After the incident, Sreyneang rode her motorcycle to the hospital.

After having her injuries bandaged, she went to the Chaom Chao III commune police station to lodge her complaint.

He said the couple were married for about seven years and had two daughters before agreeing to divorce.

Kosal said after the divorce, their older daughter lived with Chansopheap while the younger one lived with Sreyneang.