Man gets 6 months for setting fire to ex-girlfriend’s new fiance

A man was sentenced on Friday for six months in jail for allegedly starting a fire at the home of his ex-girlfriend's new beau on the day of their wedding.

Surenthiran Sugumaran, 30, also locked the groom's gate with a bicycle lock before pouring petrol onto a shoe rack outside the flat and setting the rack on fire.

In October, he pleaded guilty to one count of mischief by fire, with a second charge of wrongful confinement being taken into account for sentencing.

On Friday, District Judge Eugene Teo told Surenthiran that the offences committed were serious. He said that previous cases involving fire at properties involved lengthy jail terms.

Judge Teo said that the case is going to be no different. Such offences are very dangerous for the occupants in the flat, and that is a reason for this. He said that he also took into account how Surenthiran planned and carried out the offences, including the fact that he locked the premises.

He said that you have now taken responsibility for your actions in your favour and that you have taken responsibility for your actions.

Surenthiran was notified on Instagram that his ex-girlfriend was getting married the next day.

He planned to lock the main gate of his ex-girlfriend's husband-to-be out of anger and to set a fire to cause the groom to be inconvenienced ahead of the wedding ceremony.

Surenthiran filled an empty bottle with petrol and went to the victim's home in Jurong West in the wee hours of Mar 12, 2022, dressed in a black hoodie and long pants.

He drew the hood over his face to avoid detection by police cameras and took the lift to the 12th floor before walking up the stairs to the 13th storey.

After locking the victim's main gate with a bicycle lock, he poured petrol onto a shoe rack outside the unit and set it on fire.

He then walked down the stairs, took the lift to the ground floor and threw the lighter in the bushes before riding home.

Six pairs of shoes and a pair of slippers were damaged in the fire, with total losses to the victim estimated at about S $410.

Surenthiran was allowed time to speak to his family before being taken away by the judge.