A despatch rider pleaded not guilty in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today, to causing mischief by fire which left six vehicles blazing at a car park near the LRT station in Taman Jaya last Monday.

Budiman Shah Baharudin, 26, was charged with causing mischief by hurling a mineral water bottle containing petrol at a Proton Wira car owned by Muhammad Nor Fikri Razali, 20.

Apart from the Proton Wira, five other vehicles - a Proton Gen 2, Toyota Vios, Honda City, Suzuki Swift and Proton Saga FLX - were inadvertently set on fire.

Budiman's actions also caused fire to public property comprising a 30-metre-long overhead pedestrian crossing, electric switchboard, concrete pole, concrete floor, advertisement board and a traffic light post, totalling RM449,600 in damages.

He was charged with committing the offence at Jalan Persiaran Barat, Petaling Jaya, between 12.50pm and 1.15pm on Dec 21.

The accused, who was wearing a cream-coloured T-shirt, was accused of committing the offence under Section 435 of the Penal Code which carries a jail sentence of up to 14 years and a fine, if found guilty.

While deputy public prosecutor Shafiq Hasim objected to bail, defence lawyer Suraj Singh appealed to the court to consider bail as there was no risk of Budiman fleeing the country.

"In this case, the accused lives with his guarantor (his mother), who will ensure his presence in court... there is no reason for him to flee.

"In addition, the accused is married and working as a despatch rider earning only RM800 a month and has to support his parents," said Suraj, adding that Budiman was willing to accept any additional condition imposed on him by the court.

Judge Manira Mohd Nor allowed the accused who was arrested on the day of the incident to be given RM10,000 bail in one surety, and fixed Jan 27 for re-mention of the case.

Initial investigations by the police found that a motorcyclist rode close to a car in the area and hurled a bottle of petrol which ignited the rear of the vehicle, and the fire subsequently spread to five other cars parked nearby.

- Bernama