Man sets fire to Johor Baru bank after RM100mil insurance rejected

JOHOR BARU: A 29-year-old man is believed to have set a bank on fire after his application to be insured some RM100mil was rejected.

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Wahib Musa said that the suspect allegedly used petrol to start the fire at the premises along Jalan Kundang here at about 8.45pm on Thursday.

"A passer-by saw the man splashing liquid, believed to be petrol, on the bank's door before lighting up a piece of paper to set the place ablaze.

"The suspect immediately fled the scene on a motorcycle," ACP Abdul Wahib said in a statement here on Friday.

He said the Fire and Rescue Department managed to put out the fire and there was no serious damage caused.

"Acting on information, police arrested the suspect at his home. The man admitted that he was unhappy with the bank for rejecting his application for a RM100mil protection insurance.

"A check also revealed that the suspect had received treatment for mental disorder at Hospital Sultanah Nora here," he said.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 436 of the Penal Code for arson, adding that the suspect would be remanded for a week until July 27.