KUALA LUMPUR: An e-hailing driver pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to attempted murder after allegedly setting a woman on fire using petrol, leaving her with severe injuries earlier this month.
Ang Kam Tong, 59, entered the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Datin Surita Budin.
According to the charge sheet, Ang allegedly committed the offence against 62-year-old lottery shop employee Gan Siew Teen at the premises in Taman Pusat Kepong, Sentul, at 7.51am on Aug 9.
The offence was framed under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum 20-year jail term upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Shakila Mohd Shariff opposed bail, arguing that the offence was non-bailable due to its severity and that the accused had previously attempted to flee.
Defence lawyer Lee Keng Fatt, however, urged the court to grant bail, saying Ang relied on an unpredictable income as an e-hailing driver.
“My client is unmarried and has siblings to support. On these grounds, I urge the court to grant bail,” Lee said, as reported by Bernama.
The court granted Ang bail of RM15,000 with one surety and set Sept 25 for case mention and document submission.
Gan reportedly suffered burns to about 50% of her body after being doused with a liquid, believed to be petrol, and set alight at her workplace.
