Man Starts Fire Due to Delusion, Injuring Firefighters

A man suffering from a delusional disorder set fire to his own flat in Singapore, believing his upstairs neighbor was attacking him with laser beams and electrical currents. The resulting blaze led to the evacuation of residents and sent two firefighters to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Liu Zheyuan, 44, pleaded guilty on Monday to rashly causing a fire at his flat on Joo Seng Road. The court heard that for two years, Liu had been experiencing delusions that his neighbor was intentionally disturbing him. On May 4, believing he was under attack, Liu burned charcoal in a pot in his living room to ward off the perceived assault.

The fire quickly spread, igniting a plastic curtain and engulfing the unit. Liu attempted to extinguish the flames but failed, prompting him to call the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and alert his neighbors to evacuate. The fire caused significant damage to the common area, with repair costs estimated between S$80,000 and S$100,000.

Liu was remanded for a mental health assessment, which confirmed he suffered from a delusional disorder at the time. While a minor link was found between his condition and the offense, he was not deemed to be of unsound mind. The court has called for a report on his suitability for a mandatory treatment order, with sentencing adjourned to July. He faces a potential jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

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The ideas that his neighbour shot laser beams and sent currents through his ceiling were 'fixed, false beliefs'