Landlady dons mask and sets fire to ex-tenant's new flat after accusing her of stealing money

A 46-year-old woman set fire to her ex-tenant new residence after accusing the latter of stealing money. 

Liang Baolin, 46, faced eight charges, including mischief by fire and harassment.

She was sentenced to 18 months’ and six weeks in jail after pleading guilty, reports Shin Min Daily News. 

The court heard that Liang had rented out a room to Ms Ou Wanyi, 31, in April last year. 

One month into her stay, Ms Ou and Liang got into a dispute, and after finding out that Liang was once a patient at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Ms Ou decided to move out. 

She and her sister then rented a room in a Tampines flat.

Between June and September last year, Liang had harassed Ms Ou on many occasions.

This includes her sending Ms Ou text messages, accusing her of stealing money.

Liang visited Ms Ou’s new address in September 2017 and messed up items placed outside the unit. 

When she encountered Ms Ou, she started scolding her loudly, and both of them called the police to lodge a complaint about the other.

On November 15, 2017, at around 5am, Liang visited the flat once again, bringing kerosene and a lighter. 

To prevent her identity from being disclosed, she wore a black hat, a black shirt, and dark coloured pants. 

When Liang noticed a closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the lift lobby, she even deliberately lowered her hat to hide her face.

After making sure that there was no one outside the flat, she proceeded to douse the metal gates of the flat in kerosene and set it on fire.

Liang then fled the scene in a taxi.

After the police received a report, they started an investigation and arrested Liang the next day while she was out buying lunch. 

The owner of the flat revealed that she had to fork out about $22,785 to repair the damages done.