A husband was arrested after allegedly murdering his wife by pouring acid on her face in Indonesia.
Abdul Latief, 29, is said to have argued with his partner Sarah, 21, at the couple’s home in Cianjur Regency, West Java province on November 20 – just two months after their wedding.
Neighbours allegedly heard Sarah’s screams and ran to help. They rushed to help and found her lying on the floor covered in chemical burns.
Abdul reportedly managed to escape the scene. However, he was arrested the next day by Indonesian National Police on Sunday November 21 at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten Province.
He was allegedly trying to flee the country on a flight to Saudi Arabia.
Adjunct Commissioner Septiawan Adi, head of the Cianjur Police Criminal and Investigation Unit, said: ‘We received information that the suspect would flee to Saudi Arabia.
‘We coordinated with the police at Soetta Airport and the officers there immediately arrested him and took him to the Cianjur Police Station.’
Officers said that following the alleged acid attack, Sarah was taken to the Hasan Sadikin Hospital’s intensive care unit, but succumbed to her severe injuries.
Officials believe her death was actually planned.
Police chief Septiawan Adi said: ‘The suspect claimed to have obtained highly-concentrated acidic liquid after buying it at an online store. He said the liquid was to clean the floor.
‘But we see that there is an element of premeditated murder. He will be charged with premeditated murder, which carries a life sentence and even the death penalty.’