65-year-old Tan Kheng Hock, who was earlier charged with attempted murder last month, has had his charge amended to murder after the victim died.
He had allegedly set 37-year-old Heck Hock Minimart owner Tan Khim Hee on fire after pouring accelerant on him for not selling him beer on 28 December last year.
Tay will be remanded at the Changi Prison Complex medical centre and his case had been adjourned to 27 January.
Upon conviction, he faces the death penalty.
Recap
He had set the victim, a minimart owner, on fire after the latter had refused to sell him beer.
The Singapore Police Force said on 29 December that they received a call for help on 28 December at about 10.12pm.
When the police officers arrived, they found the 37-year-old victim with burn injuries, and he was then subsequently conveyed to the hospital.
The 65-year-old was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder under the penal code earlier this morning (30 December).
A worker surnamed Ng, who works nearby told Mothership that the 65-year-old man, Tay Kheng Hock, had gone to Heng Hock Minimart at Block 210 to buy some beer, but was rejected by the victim, 37-year-old shop owner Tan Khim Hee.
Tay then purportedly got upset and poured accelerant on the victim, before setting him on fire using a lighter.
The worker said that she was not sure where Tay got his hands on the accelerant, and that her coworker had went to retrieve a fire extinguisher from a laundromat nearby to put out that fire on the victim.
The victim’s whole body was engulfed in flames and he was screaming in pain.
According to the worker, the accused lives in the vicinity.