Man in Malaysia arrested for setting wife on fire while drunk, killing her
- Police said the 50-year-old had threatened to set his wife on fire previously. She died of her injuries on Sunday, 16 hours after being set alight
- The couple had apparently been arguing while drinking ‘tapai’, an alcoholic drink derived from fermenting rice or other starchy foods
The 41-year-old woman died from her injuries on Sunday at the Keningau district hospital, 16 hours after the incident at the house in Kampung Tinagalan on Saturday night.
The couple’s 16-year-old daughter, who was in the house, managed to save her younger siblings from the fire that razed their wooden home.
Police have arrested the 50-year-old man and are investigating the case for murder.
Keningau district police chief Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said the incident apparently occurred during an argument between the couple while drinking tapai, an alcoholic drink derived from fermenting rice or other starchy foods.
He said initial police investigations found that the couple were in an intoxicated state when their verbal argument took place – before it got out of hand when the wife challenged the husband to set her on fire.
Yampil said that the husband had earlier threatened to set his wife on fire.