KUANTAN: The charred body of a 68-year-old disabled man was found in his home which caught fire at Kampung Perak in Sungai Tekam, Jerantut last night.
District police chief Superintendent Mazlan Hassan said Mohamad Daud's remains were recovered on his bed by firemen after they put out the fire at about 11pm.
He said investigations revealed that the victim, who had records for mental illness, had been living alone in the house for more than 25 years.
"Further investigations revealed that two villagers had sent food to the victim at about 7pm yesterday and when they left the house, the victim was smoking at the front door. About 9.30pm, a villager spotted the house on fire and alerted other villagers and the authority.
"Firemen were deployed to the scene and once the fire was doused, they found the victim in a sleeping position on his bed. Checks by the Fire and Rescue Department's forensic unit revealed the fire could have been sparked by a lamp that was found near the victim’s remains," he said, adding that police have ruled out foul play in the incident.
Mazlan said the body was sent to the Jerantut hospital for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, a Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the department were alerted on the fire at about 9.40pm before two fire engines along with 17 firemen were deployed to the scene.
"Firemen managed to bring the fire under control at 10.15pm and about 50 per cent of the premises were damaged. The remains of an elderly man, who was trapped in one of the rooms, were found in the premises," he said.