Woman set on fire by husband suffers burns

GEORGETOWN - A woman suffers burns after her husband set her on fire using petrol at their house at an oil palm plantation in Tasek Gelugor on Monday.

Seberang Perai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Asri Shafie said the incident happened at about 9.30pm after the couple allegedly had an argument.

He said at the time of the incident, the couple's four children were inside the room at the house before they overheard their parents quarelling.

"One of the victim's children tried to leave the room, but the door was pushed from the outside. However, the child managed to get out of the room shortly after and saw that their mother was on fire.

"It was reported that the victim's child also saw the father attempting to put out the fire but then he ran away after finding that the fire was spreading all over the victim's body," he said after the Penang police contingent monthly meeting at the state police contingent headquarters, today.

Commenting further, Asri said the police who received the report on the incident lodged by the victim's neighbour rushed to the scene to investigate the matter.

He said during the inspection at the scene, the police also found a bottle filled with petrol and a lighter believed to be used by the suspect to set his wife on fire.

He said the victim who suffered 27 per cent burns received treatment at the Penang Hospital (HPP).

"A background check found that the suspect had four previous criminal records and had previously injured the victim.

"The couple were married for five years and they have four children," he said.

He said the police were actively tracking down the suspect and the case was being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code.