Kuala Lumpur police arrest a 59-year-old man for setting a female betting outlet worker on fire in Kepong over a personal dispute involving a bet.
KUALA LUMPUR: A personal grudge over a betting dispute is believed to have prompted a 59-year-old local man to set fire to a woman at a betting outlet in Kepong on Aug 9.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the suspect was arrested in Kepong yesterday and police would seek a remand order today to assist investigations.
He said the 62-year-old woman, who worked as a counter attendant at the outlet, suffered burns to about 50 per cent of her body and remains unconscious. He described the incident as an act of extreme violence.
Speaking at a press conference here today, Fadil said the suspect knew the victim and investigations were ongoing to complete the evidence before the case was brought to court.
He added that police seized several items believed to have been used in the attack, including a container filled with fuel and a bicycle. The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.
In a separate development, police seized nearly 80 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine and 30 kg of ecstasy in a raid in Brickfields on Aug 9, with the total value of the drugs and assets seized estimated at RM8.3 million. A 36-year-old foreign man was arrested.
Fadil said the suspect was believed to be Vietnamese but was carrying a Canadian passport, adding that police are conducting further checks to establish his nationality.
“He has no previous criminal record and is remanded until Aug 20 to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he added.
Police also seized a Proton X50 worth about RM85,000 and are now tracking the suspected supplier, middlemen and other members of the distribution network.
