Singaporean man critical after torching himself

JOHOR BARU - A 42-year-old Singaporean is in critical condition with serious burns to his body after he set himself on fire near a petrol station in Century Gardens here yesterday.

The victim, whose name was withheld pending investigations, suffered 100 per cent burns to his body and is being warded at Sultanah Aminah Hospital.

Investigations revealed that the victim had used a four-litre petrol container to buy fuel from the station on the pretext that his car had broken down at about 9.20am.

Following that, he walked away from the petrol station while dousing himself with the petrol.

Johor Baru Selatan police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulaiman Salleh said the victim then set himself on fire with a cigarette lighter.

"Then the victim, who was in flames, started running to a nearby hotel before he fell into a drain, which was about 50m from the petrol station."

Sulaiman said members of the public had immediately called for an ambulance to take him to hospital.

He confirmed the victim was in critical condition following the burns he suffered.

Sulaiman said police were investigating the cause of the incident as well as identifying the victim's family, with assistance from the Singapore consulate's office here.