Cambodian Woman Found Dead After Alleged Assault by Husband

Picture courtesy of SiamNews.

Police in Nonthaburi are investigating the mysterious death of a Cambodian woman who collapsed and died inside a local food shop shortly after telling others she had been assaulted by her husband.

Officers from Rattanathibet Police Station were called to the restaurant in Tha Sai subdistrict, Mueang Nonthaburi, at around 13:00 on 14 August, where they found the body of Ms Chante, 49, slumped over a table. Her sudden death shocked the shop owner and customers.

The owner, Ms Pawana, said the deceased was a regular customer. That morning, Ms Chante had returned to the shop after buying food elsewhere and complained that her husband had physically assaulted her. She then asked to rest at one of the tables. Ms Pawana, busy preparing food, thought little of it until a motorcycle taxi driver who came to buy food later remarked that the woman appeared to be lying unusually still. On closer inspection, Ms Chante was found to have died and police were called.

According to Ms Nok, the sister of the deceased’s husband, the couple had been together for around eight years and both worked in construction. She said Ms Chante was known to drink alcohol regularly, and that the previous day, 13 August, she had left their workers’ camp with her belongings and had not returned.

Her husband, Mr Natthaphon, told police that his wife drank every day. He admitted the couple had argued the previous day because he wanted her to go to work, but she had responded angrily. He confessed to slapping her in the mouth four or five times in a fit of anger.

A preliminary examination by a doctor found bruising to the cheeks and mouth, but the exact cause of death remains unclear. The body has been sent to the Institute of Forensic Science for a full post-mortem to determine how she died.

Police say they are awaiting the autopsy results before deciding whether to pursue criminal charges.

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamNews 2025-08-15