Man who allegedly set wife on fire remanded for six days

GEORGE TOWN - The man, who allegedly set his wife on fire at an oil palm estate here on Monday, has been remanded for six days, starting until Aug 9.

Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) district police chief Assistant commissioner Mohd Asri Shafie said the remand order was obtained from the court to enable further investigations.

"The six-day remand for the 36-year-old man allegedly who set his wife on fire with petrol was allowed," he said briefly on Friday.

On Thursday, the suspect was arrested at a house on Jalan Bukit Panchor in Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, at 1pm.

According to reports, the suspect set his 35-year-old wife on fire using petrol in a house at the oil palm estate, believed to be over a misunderstanding.

The victim was reported to be in a critical state, with her body suffering 27 per cent burns, and was receiving treatment in the Penang Hospital (HPP) intensive care unit.

The case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous harm by dangerous weapons or means.