The 48-year-old suspect was picked up at 4am today at a kampung in Merbau Pulas, Kuala Ketil, Kedah.

Perlis police chief Noor Mushar Mohd said with this arrest, police had solved the arson case.

He said the man had been on the run for the past three months.

Mushar said the suspect had 12 prior convictions for a variety of offences, including gang robbery, house trespassing and misappropriation of property.

He said police had obtained a court order to remand the suspect for four days until July 9.

“He’s believed to have committed the arson with another person named Mat. We charged Mat in court last month,” he said when contacted.

Mat, or Mohd Azimar Abd Razak, 36, was charged with mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage under the Penal Code by torching the mufti’s car at 4, Persiaran Wawasan, Kangar, on March 22 at about 5am.

He claimed trial.

Asri had alerted the Fire and Rescue Department after finding his car torched at his official residence at Persiaran Wawasan.

Police believe that Molotov cocktails were hurled at the mufti’s car.

The mufti said the engine compartment was destroyed in the fire. The front and back windscreens were also shattered.