Husband Arrested for Attacking Wife with Knife Over Drinking Habits

In Samaki Munychey District, Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, on July 23, 2026, police arrested a husband who attacked his wife with a knife after she advised him to stop drinking excessively. Responding to a hotline call from the victim, officers led by District Police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Sao Sophak immediately dispatched to the scene. The victim, Ms. Chok Samnang, 32, stated that her husband, Mr. Soy Sokkhey, 38, assaulted her. The husband became enraged when his wife sent him messages via Facebook asking him to return home and advising him that excessive drinking was bad for his health. He reportedly threw plates, slammed her head on the floor, and smashed her phone. He then choked her and beat her in several places. Afterward, he chased her with a pangatou (large knife), intending to kill her. However, she escaped by running to neighbors for help, sustaining injuries to her legs and arms from thorns during her flight. Following the incident, the suspect, Soy Sokkhey, was apprehended by the police and confessed to the acts. Authorities confiscated evidence including one pangatou, one axe, broken glass fragments, a mobile phone, and pieces of shattered plates. The suspect is currently being held temporarily at the Samaki Munychey District Police Inspectorate for legal proceedings. This incident underscores the deep-rooted issue of domestic violence in Cambodia, particularly when alcohol is involved. While the swift response from law enforcement is commendable, fundamental measures are needed to ensure peace within households.