Kuala lumpur: An e-hailing driver pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of attempted murder after allegedly setting a woman on fire using petrol, causing her severe injuries earlier this month. Ang Kam Tong, 59, entered the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Datin Surita Budin.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the charge sheet accuses Ang of committing the offence against 62-year-old lottery shop employee Gan Siew Teen at the premises in Taman Pusat Kepong, Sentul, at 7.51 am on August 9. The charge was framed under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Shakila Mohd Shariff opposed bail, arguing that the offence was non-bailable due to its severity, and noted that the accused had previously attempted to flee. In mitigation, defence lawyer Lee Keng Fatt asked the judge to grant bail as Ang relies on an unpredictable income as an e-hailing driver. 'My client is unmarried and has siblings to support. On these grounds, I urge the court to grant bail,' Lee said.

The court subsequently granted the accused bail in the amount of RM15,000 with one surety, setting September 25 for case mention and document submission. The court appearance follows earlier media reports that an elderly woman suffered burns to approximately 50 per cent of her body after being doused with a liquid, believed to be petrol, and set alight at her workplace.