ALOR STAR: A 23-year-old man has confessed to setting fire to eight homes in Baling over griev·ances with the local community, police said.
The confession put to rest the mystery behind the fires that had the local community on edge.
Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh said the suspect confessed to setting fire due to resentment over being bullied at work and ostracised by the local community.
"The suspect was identified after background checks found that the victims were either directly or indirectly connected to him.
"During questioning, he confessed that his actions were motivated by personal grievances linked mainly to workplace issues, it could be from bullying to relationship conflicts.
"He resigned from his job on Dec 23 and started committing the offences the next day.
"Investigations found that some of the victims had worked with the suspect," he said at the Kedah police headquarters today.
Of the 10 reported fires, Fisol said one was unrelated, eight were started by the suspect and one was caused by flames spreading from one of the fires started by the man.
He said the suspect was detained on Jan 20 at 12.30am in Kupang, Baling, and has been remanded until Jan 25.
Fisol said the suspect had no criminal record and tested negative for drugs.
The case is being investigated for mischief by fire under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years' upon conviction.
The fires occurred between Dec 24 and Jan 12, destroying 10 properties and 11 motorcycles in several villages.