A 59-year-old e-hailing driver accused of setting a lottery outlet worker on fire in Kepong has pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
The accused, Ang Kam Dong, entered his plea after the charge was read to him through an interpreter. The case relates to an incident earlier this month in which a female worker was allegedly attacked inside a lottery outlet.
Ang was charged under Section 307 of Malaysia’s Penal Code. If convicted, the offence carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine. Where the act results in injury, the maximum punishment can increase to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Court Grants RM15,000 Bail
During the court proceedings, Ang’s lawyer, Lee Keng Fatt, applied for bail and told the court that his client was single and did not have a fixed income.
The lawyer also informed the court that Ang’s siblings could potentially act as sureties. The court subsequently granted bail of RM15,000 with one surety.
The case has been fixed for Sept 25, when the matter is expected to be mentioned and documents submitted. As Ang has pleaded not guilty, the allegations against him have yet to be proven in court.
The case has attracted significant attention because of the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and the subsequent efforts by police to locate the suspect.
Woman Suffered Burns Over 50% Of Her Body
The incident reportedly happened on Aug 9, when Ang allegedly entered a lottery outlet in Kepong and poured petrol over a 62-year-old female worker before setting her alight.
The woman suffered burns covering approximately 50% of her body and was reportedly still in critical condition following the incident.
After the alleged attack, Ang reportedly remained at large for nine days. Investigators believe he sought shelter at several temples around Selangor while police continued searching for him.
He eventually returned to his home on Aug 18, reportedly believing that public attention surrounding the case had subsided.
However, police were allegedly monitoring the area around his residence and arrested him when he returned.
Police Investigate Alleged Grudge Over Lottery Ticket
Investigators reportedly managed to strengthen their identification of Ang after discovering that he had sustained burns to his left hand, which was believed to have occurred during the alleged attack.
Earlier reports also suggested that the incident may have stemmed from a grievance involving a lottery ticket. Ang was reportedly upset after being unable to produce a winning ticket to claim a prize.
Police have also reportedly investigated the possibility that the attack had been planned for about a year before it was allegedly carried out.
With the attempted murder charge now before the courts, the prosecution will have to establish its case through evidence presented during the legal proceedings. Ang remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
The next mention of the case is scheduled for Sept 25.