Man, 81, burns care centre following row with caretaker
Padang Besar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Shokri Abdullah said preliminary investigations into the 8.31am incident revealed that the facility housed 20 elderly residents, one of whom is believed to have started the fire.
"Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the care centre showed that the blaze was believed to have been ignited by an 81-year-old male resident.
"The suspect allegedly started the fire in a cupboard in the kitchen area, which then spread to the main hall, destroying about 50 per cent of the space," he said in a statement today.
Shokri said investigations later found that the act was fuelled by the suspect's dissatisfaction with the centre's caretaker.
"The suspect was reportedly upset after being refused permission to travel to Kangar to get a hearing aid with his girlfriend, who is also a resident at the centre.
"The estimated losses are still being assessed," he said, adding that the suspect has been arrested and later released on police bail.
The case is being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire, which carries a maximum 14 years' imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
Meanwhile, a Perlis Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the blaze damaged about 50 per cent of the building's structure.
"Firefighters from the Padang Besar fire and rescue station were dispatched to the scene after we received an emergency call at 8.32am.
"They used a 60-metre hose line with two water jets to bring the fire under control by 9.31am.
"No injuries were reported, and the operation ended at 9.34am," the spokesman said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Two female students fight at secondary school over false rumours
GOMBAK: An argument over spreading false rumours escalated into a fight between two female students at a secondary school here on Thursday, prompting a police investigation. District police chief Assistant Commissioner Noor Ariffin Mohamad Nasir said the case came to light following a report lodged by a Form Five female student. "The fight involved female students and preliminary investigations found that only two students were involved in the incident. "The altercation is believed to have been triggered by provocation, where one party accused the other of spreading false rumours," he said in a statement today. He said the case is being investigated under Section 160 of the Penal Code and no arrests have been made so far.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Did a man set fire to a tow truck in JB?
GETTING a traffic summons can be upsetting. Getting your car towed can be infuriating. But that's no reason to make it worse by committing arson or vandalism. Did a man set a tow truck on fire in Johor Baru after his car was towed by the city council? VERDICT: TRUE According to Bernama, police arrested a man suspected of setting fire to a tow truck owned by the Johor Baru City Council last Friday (Aug 15) at the vehicle storage depot at Lot 1, Johor Baru Waterfront. Johor Baru Selatan OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat said the incident was believed to have stemmed from the suspect's dissatisfaction after his Perodua Axia was towed away by the city council a day earlier. "The suspect, who had no money to pay for the compound, allegedly poured petrol and set the truck on fire, causing an estimated RM10,000 loss. "Police apprehended the suspect on the same day at 1.06pm and seized several items, including an aluminium container and a lighter," he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 17). He said checks revealed that the suspect had previously been involved in a case under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. However, he tested negative for drugs. He added that the suspect has been remanded for five days starting yesterday to facilitate further investigation under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine on conviction. "Taking the law into one's own hands is a serious matter as it can endanger lives, property and public order. "The public is urged to use legal channels to resolve any problems and avoid violating the law," he said. A video recording of the arson has gone viral on Facebook.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Man torches city council tow truck after failing to pay compound
JOHOR BARU: In a fit of anger, a motorist set fire to a Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) tow truck after he was unable to pay a compound for his towed car. Although no one was injured in the incident on Aug 15, damages to the council's vehicle were estimated at about RM10,000. The 31-year-old suspect allegedly poured petrol and torched the truck inside the MBJB impound at Johor Baru Waterfront around 11.07am, a day after his Perodua Axia was seized. Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said closed-circuit television footage led the police to the man, who was arrested at 1.06pm the same day. Police also seized an aluminium canister and a lighter believed to have been used in the arson. "Checks showed the suspect had a prior drug-related record. However, his urine test came back negative. "He has been remanded for five days until Aug 19," Raub said in a statement today. The case is being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire, which carries a penalty of up to seven years' jail and a fine. Raub warned that taking the law into one's own hands was a serious offence that endangered lives, property and public order. He urged the public to resolve grievances through legal channels instead of "acting outside the bounds of the law."
