A 22-year-old man believed to be a runner for an illegal moneylender has been remanded for seven days over a BMW arson in Air Itam, Penang.
The suspect was brought before magistrate Noor Idayu Salim on 14 August, who issued the remand order to assist police investigations under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire.
New Straits Times reported that the suspect is believed to have been paid between RM900 and RM1,000 to set fire to a BMW 220i belonging to a 61-year-old man at Jalan RU3, Air Itam, on 8 August.
The fire caused an estimated RM40,000 in losses to the victim.
Preliminary investigations linked the arson to a RM6,000 money-lending arrangement. The victim’s son reportedly took out the loan after responding to a Facebook advertisement on 5 August, three days before the car was set ablaze.
Acting on information, police arrested the suspect at Taman Sejahtera, Bukit Mertajam, on 13 August.
Section 435 of the Penal Code covers mischief by fire and carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
