Woman's car torched by villagers who suspected her of drink-driving

A woman’s car was torched by villagers who suspected she had been drink-driving, about three hours after she accidentally crashed into two motorcycles at Tasek Gelugor last night.

However, police said the 56-year-old vegetable seller tested negative for alcohol consumption, as reported by Free Malaysia Today.

“Call the police and let us handle it,” said North Seberang Perai district police chief Noorzainy Mohd Noor, adding that the public should not take the law into their own hands.

He said the woman was travelling home in Bumbung Lima after delivering vegetables when the accident happened around 9.50pm.

The woman had told investigators she swerved to avoid a stray animal on the road when she crashed into two 14-year-old boys who were riding the motorcycles.

Noorzainy said the two boys’ motorcycles – a Honda Wave and a Yamaha LC – were badly damaged while both boys broke their right legs.

The teenagers have been taken to the Seberang Perai Hospital for treatment.

The woman left her Kia Sephia car at the scene of the accident to lodge a police report, but around 2am, the car was set ablaze, Noorzainy said.

The police are now searching for those responsible for setting the car on fire, he said.

The police are investigating this case for careless and inconsiderate driving under the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a RM10,000 maximum fine and a jail term not exceeding 12 months.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the torching of the car under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which deals with the offence of mischief by fire or explosive substance. Those convicted can be jailed up to 14 years and fined.

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