Singaporean man torches himself in front of clinic

JOHOR BARU - A Singaporean man torched himself in front of a clinic along Jalan Harimau in Taman Century here.

The 42-year-old man had, prior to the 9am incident yesterday, bought four litres of petrol for RM8 (S$3) from a petrol station just two metres away from the clinic.

Johor Baru South OCPD Supt Sulaiman Salleh said the victim told the pump attendant that his car was out of petrol and it was parked near the clinic.

"After filling up a plastic container with petrol, he walked to the clinic at Jalan Harimau and torched himself there and ran to a nearby hotel before falling into a drain," he said.

Supt Sulaiman said the police did not know why the victim torched himself and urged witnesses to come forward.

He said the victim, who suffered serious burns, was in critical condition and still unconscious at the Hospital Sultanah Aminah here.