According to Daily Mirror, a jealous ex-husband allegedly emptied a bottle of lighter fluid all over his ex-wife and set fire to her – leaving her with horrific burns all over her body. Rungruedee Sithibut is lucky to be alive after 30 per cent of her skin was torched in the horrific incident, which happened in Thepkrasattri, in Thaland District, Phuket Province, Thailand, yesterday.
Police say they believe the woman was brutally beaten by her 50-year-old ex Somkuan Jongsuk before the arson attack. Officers said the 43-year-old victim is still in nearby Thalang Hospital where doctors continue to work on her battered and burned body following the attack at a nursery school where she works as a cleaner.
Captain Kraisorn Boonprasop of Thalang Police said:
“Mr Somkuan came to Thepkrasattri Municipality Kindergarten to meet with Ms Rungruedee at about noon. Ms Rungruedee was working when Mr Somkuan turned up on a motorbike. He shouted for her before he went inside the building. He poured fuel on her from a glass bottle and lit her on fire.
Ms Rungruedee ran into the teachers’ room and doused herself with water from the bathroom, but Mr Somkuan followed her. There were five teachers inside the room, but they were too frightened of Mr Somkuan to restrain him. Instead, they called the police and after Mr Somkuan left they helped Ms Rungruedee.
Ms Rungruedee has not filed any formal complaint as she is still in hospital, but already because of the nature of this attack police must take action. Police are now tracking down Somkuan to face legal action. He is a Phuket native and we believe he is still on the island.”
Police added there was a history of domestic abuse between the pair and have been called out to them before – but this was the worst attack. It is believed the ex-husband regularly keeps tabs on his ex-wife and cannot stand the fact they split up, regularly working himself up in a rage believing her to be with other men.