A 59-year-old e-hailing driver was charged at the Sessions Court here today with attempting to murder a woman by allegedly dousing her with petrol before setting her on fire at a lottery outlet in Kepong.
Ang Kam Tong pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Sessions Court Judge Datin Surita Budin.
According to the charge, Ang allegedly attempted to kill 62-year-old Gan Siew Teen by setting her on fire using petrol, causing her to suffer serious injuries.
The incident allegedly took place at a lottery outlet in Taman Pusat Kepong at around 7.51am on August 9. He was charged under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Shakila Mohd Shariff did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offence and the extent of the victim’s injuries. She told the court that the woman suffered third-degree burns and that the accused had also fled when attempts were made to apprehend him.
However, defence lawyer Lee Keng Fatt urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the accused had not been found guilty of the offence. He also said Ang worked as an e-hailing driver with an unstable income.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Judge Surita allowed Ang to be released on RM15,000 bail with one surety. The court fixed September 25 for mention of the case.
Police had previously arrested Ang after a nine-day search following the alleged attack. Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the local man was detained to assist investigations into the case involving the woman’s serious injuries.
Initial checks found that Ang had no previous criminal record. Police also said he admitted to being involved in the incident, allegedly because he was dissatisfied with the victim.
Among the items seized during the investigation were a drink bottle containing a liquid suspected to be petrol, a helmet, a shirt, a Yamaha 135LC motorcycle and a motorcycle key with its road tax.
The victim, who worked as a counter attendant at the lottery outlet, suffered burns to around 50 per cent of her body. She was treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital and was previously reported to be in critical but stable condition.
