Thailand to pay US$17,000 each to 2 Malaysians injured in fire attack
Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, and Ong Yik Leong, 26, had been sitting on the steps outside the Big C shopping centre on Thursday last week when they were attacked.
Their assailant, later identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, allegedly doused them with thinner before setting them alight. He claimed that he had committed the crime out of frustration at being jobless, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper.
Gan is being treated at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for second-degree burns over 36 per cent of her body, while Ong is in the Police General Hospital's intensive care unit for second-degree burns to his upper body, according to Bernama.
Natreeya Taweewong, Thailand's permanent secretary of the tourism and sports ministry, in a statement on Monday reiterated the ministry's promise to look after both of them until they were able to return home.
'The ministry will also provide assistance under the Thai government's compensation measures, including medical expenses and emotional distress compensation to both victims,' she said.
Their medical expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of 500,000 baht each, and they will each receive 50,000 baht as compensation for emotional distress on top of that.
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