Man who set wife on fire sent to the gallows

GEORGE TOWN: A former loan shark was sentenced to the gallows after the High Court found him guilty of killing his wife by setting her on fire.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan ruled the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt against Chiam Nguang Huat, 42.
He said testimonies by witness and evidence proffered by the prosecution showed the accused had the intention to kill Lai Siew Fong, 37.
He added Chiam had acted aggressively against Lai and there were several reports lodged against the accused prior to the incident at about 4pm on June 24, 2013, at a house in Jalan Bayu Mutiara, Bukit Mertajam.
He dismissed the defence's contention that the accused intended to commit suicide since Chiam tried to save himself from the fire when the petrol spilled on him.
"The accused is guilty as charged and shall be sentenced to death by hanging," he said in his judgment.
Chiam appeared dejected when the sentence was translated to him in Hokkien and nodded his understanding.
The defence was conducted by Y. Anbananthan of the National Legal Aid Foundation while DPP Amir Hamdzah Othman prosecuted.
Outside the court, Lai Seik Fook, 44, the brother of the deceased, said the family was relieved that justice had prevailed.
He however lamented that his youngest sister might have been alive today if something was done following the reports lodged against Chiam.
In a separate case, Nordin sent two men to death for the murder of one S. Vijaindran, 23, with the offence occurring about 11pm on June 4, 2011, in front of a shop in Jalan Tasek SS/1, Simpang Ampat.
V. Veeran, 34, and MS Sasitharan, 25, were found guilty after the court found the prosecution had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
DPP Jailani Abdul Rahman prosecuted while the defence was conducted by RSN Rayer who said he will be submitting an appeal, when contacted.