Unable to go out with girlfriend, senior citizen sets care centre on fire
The centre housed 20 senior citizens and the fire was believed to have started from the kitchen cupboard area before spreading to the main hall.
PADANG BESAR – A senior citizen, who is also a resident of a care centre in Kaki Bukit, allegedly set the shelter on fire on Thursday after reportedly being dissatisfied with his caretaker.
Padang Besar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Shokri Abdullah said police received information about the incident at around 8.31am through the Padang Besar District Police Headquarters operations room via the MERS 999 hotline.
He said the centre housed 20 senior citizens and the fire was believed to have started from the kitchen cupboard area before spreading to the main hall.
“The fire damage is estimated at 50 per cent, mainly affecting the hall area.
“Initial investigations found that the suspect was unhappy because he was not allowed to go to Kangar to get a hearing aid together with his girlfriend, who is also a resident of the centre,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that the Fire and Rescue Department and the Forensics Unit from the Perlis Police Contingent Headquarters assisted in the investigation.
However, he said the total losses were still under investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire, which carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years and a fine, upon conviction.
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