Judge Norina Zainol Abdin ordered the prison term against T Gunasegaran, 39, to begin from today.

Gunasegaran was charged under Section 435 of the Penal Code with committing mischief by setting fire to a car owned by Manjeetpal Kaur, 37, valued at RM43,000, in front of an apartment block in Cheras at 3.40pm on April 11.

According to the facts of the case, Manjeetpal was in her fifth-floor apartment when her neighbour’s child told her a man was breaking into her car, parked on the roadside in front of the building.

When she went outside, she saw the accused standing by the open driver’s door and noticed smoke coming from her car.

Manjeetpal’s husband then went downstairs and tried to extinguish the fire but was obstructed by Gunasegaran.

This prompted several bystanders to intervene, detaining Gunasegaran, and successfully putting out the fire.

The police arrested Gunasegaran and confiscated a knife and a lighter from him.

Deputy public prosecutor Ngoh Jess Lynn requested a fitting punishment to serve as a lesson to the accused, emphasising the seriousness of the offence and the loss caused to the victim.

Gunasegaran, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a minimum fine, saying that he is unemployed and caring for his ailing mother.