GEORGE TOWN, Feb 5 ― A refusal to settle an outstanding debt fuelled the wrath of an Indonesian woman to torch a Bangladeshi construction worker in Bukit Mertajam yesterday.
When the man repeatedly declined to answer her phone calls, the woman took the law into her hands, splashing him with petrol before setting him ablaze at a construction site near Pasar Awam Kampung Baru.
Penang CID chief Datuk Mazlan Kesah said initial investigations revealed the 35-year-old factory worker became furious when the 32-year-old man failed to repay the money borrowed since last month.
“They (woman and the victim) are known to each other and it is understood the woman had lent some money to the man who promised to pay her back.
“However, as of Tuesday, the man failed to repay the money and was also avoiding her phone calls.
“This infuriated her and the man was set ablaze,” he told reporters here today, adding that the woman was remanded for seven days to facilitate investigations.
In the 7.30pm attack, the Bangladeshi sufferred 80 per cent burns in the body and was warded at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.
Prior to the incident, the victim and his compatriot friend were on their way to work at a construction site on a motorcycle when they were attacked by the woman.
The woman allegedly splashed a liquid believed to be petrol on the debtor, set fire to a piece of cloth and tossed it in the direction of the two men.
Mazlan said the police had recorded statements from the victim's friend and two other witnesses to facilitate investigations.
“The victim has not regained consciousness. According to doctors, his condition is stable. However, the burns are quite severe,” he added. ― Bernama
