Husband charged with murdering his wife

A jobless man has been charged in the Sessions Court here for allegedly setting his wife on fire, resulting in her death last year.

Chiam Nguang Huat, 40, who was unrepresented, is accused of murdering his wife Lai Siew Fong, 36, at their home in Taman Bayu Mutiara here at around 4pm on June 24, 2013.

He is being charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Sessions judge Munsyiri Peet fixed April 10 for mention pending the chemist’s report.

In the incident last year, Siew Fong suffered 60 percent burns on her body after she was set on fire during an argument with her husband.

She was rushed to the Penang Hospital but slipped into a coma shortly afterwards.

Her condition didn’t improve and she died a month later on August 2.