The man, whose identity is known to the Observer, cannot be identified to protect the identity of the victim.

Police arrested the suspect at Life Midmed Hospital after his wife was admitted twice within a week.

Woman returns to hospital

According to a reliable source, the woman was first admitted for treatment for injuries sustained, allegedly in the paraffin attack.

She was discharged but returned to hospital shortly afterwards with broken ribs, swollen black eyes and bruises covering her body, the source said.

The woman’s sister then reported the alleged abuse to police.

Police officers were already investigating the woman’s injuries after she initially told them she had sustained the burns accidentally, the source added.

Suspect dragged from bedside

Upon her return to hospital, the husband allegedly refused to leave his wife’s bedside.

Police were reportedly called to remove the man from the hospital on at least two occasions, the source added.

He was arrested next to his wife’s hospital bed on Tuesday (July 21) after he again allegedly refused to leave the hospital.

The suspect allegedly had to be physically dragged from the hospital after struggling with police, the source said.

The victim later told police that her burn injuries had allegedly been caused by her husband.

The matter was postponed to next Thursday (July 30) for a formal bail application.