Ang Chin Tang, the former director of a security company, wanted to avenge his friend who alleged she was the victim of constant bullying by a fellow wet market stall operator. — Reuters pic
Ang then fled to Malaysia, as his son told him that the police were after him. He remained there for 3.5 years and was arrested in January when he returned to Singapore. The 68-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of mischief by fire and another unrelated charge of shop theft. He had stolen two pens from a store in Changi Airport. Ang had learnt from his friend, who worked in a wet market at Block 538 Jurong West Avenue 1, that Peh was constantly bullying her.
On the second occasion in 2016, Ang set fire to some plastic bags and threw them towards the front tyre of Peh’s rented lorry.