A 79-year-old man was arrested and remanded for four days to assist in the investigation of a suspected arson case involving the home of his second wife. The incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday at a residence in Kampung Langkap Baru, Bandar Permaisuri.
According to Superintendent Mohammad Zaein, the Bandar Permaisuri police chief, initial investigations revealed that the suspect was seen throwing an object into the open front window of the house, which then caught fire. The property belonged to the suspect’s second wife, after which he fled the scene.
The suspect was apprehended at 4:11 a.m. within the Chabang Tiga police jurisdiction in Kuala Terengganu and was brought before the Bandar Permaisuri Magistrate’s Court for remand application at 10 a.m.
He has been remanded from August 10 to August 13 under Section 435 of the Penal Code for intentional arson.
A 26-year-old man, who identified himself as the suspect’s stepson, told the Metropolitan Daily that he witnessed the fire starting near the living room shortly after seeing his stepfather near the house around 1 a.m. At that time, he was alone at home, and his 65-year-old mother was staying at a neighboring child’s residence.
The stepson said he shouted for help as the fire spread quickly but was unable to catch his stepfather, who fled the scene by car. Other siblings also attempted to pursue the suspect but were unsuccessful.
Villagers reportedly saw the suspect’s car parked not far from the house.
The suspect’s second wife said she learned of the fire only after her youngest son informed her around 1:15 a.m. She was staying at a neighboring child’s home at the time and expressed shock over her husband’s actions, attributing the incident to ongoing misunderstandings since the previous month. The couple had been married for 25 years, with the husband commuting between their home in Kuala Terengganu and Bandar Permaisuri.
Meanwhile, Fire Chief Mohammad Sharizan confirmed that the fire was successfully extinguished within 30 minutes.
