An estranged couple in Cambodia have sawed their house in half to avoid the country's convoluted divorce process.

Moeun Rim and his wife, Nhanh, who have been married nearly 40 years, split the building last week following an argument, local officials said.

Mr Rim has removed his share of the Lake dwellers fear loss of homes ...
Cambodians gear up for election ...
Thai-Cambodia spat continues ... property and the couple have also divided their land into four parts; two for their children, and two for them.

Divorce cases in Cambodia can be costly and may take a long time to settle.

The house - or one half of the house - is located in Prey Veng province, about 90km (56 miles) from the capital, Phnom Penh.

In sickness and health

The couple, who are both about 40 years old, fell out after Mr Rim accused his wife of neglecting him whilst he was ill.

"We tried to persuade them to think clearly before they did this because they had been married for nearly 40 years," local chief Vorng Morn told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper.

"But they did not listen," he said.

A local lawyer told the newspaper that dividing a property was legal if both parties had agreed to it - but that it did not meant the pair were legally divorced.

"If in the future they have any disagreements, the provincial chief will not be responsible, as there had not been a judgment from the court," Prak Phin said.

(BBC)

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