Whenever one forgets to bring the car key, what is usually done is that the person will turn back and get it, even if it causes inconvenience.
For this Singaporean man, instead of doing this, he did something no sane person would ever think of doing — setting his own car on fire.
SG man sets Mercedes on fire after he forgot his car key
According to court documents sighted by Shin Min Daily News, 30-year-old Shiva Gandas forgot to bring the smart key needed to unlock and start his Mercedes-Benz on Jan 31, 2023.
Instead of heading back to retrieve the key, Gandas decided that the best way to solve the problem was to use a lighter to light the ignition switch in the car, a move he attempted to imitate from the Marvel Comics character ‘Ghost Rider’.
Not long after, the plastic surrounding the ignition switch button began to melt and caught fire, causing the flames to spill over to the driver’s seat and send thick pillars of smoke pouring out from the Mercedes.
The blaze soon caught the attention of residents, who offered help in putting out the fire. However, Gandas rejected their assistance, not once, but twice.
Left with little choice, the residents alerted the security guards. As for Gandas, he fled the scene and went home, leaving the residents and security guards to put out the fire he started.
Admitted to be on drugs at the time
After a report was lodged over the fire, police headed to Gandas’ home to question him but no one answered the door.
45 minutes later, they heard the sounds of someone yelling and smashing items inside the unit and managed to head inside with the landlord’s help.
Gandas was eventually arrested and a pepper spray, a stun device, and drugs were discovered by police.
He later admitted to be under the influence of methamphetamine (“ice”) on the day of the fire.
Committed a string of crimes previously
Further investigation later revealed that Gandas had committed several crimes, one involving a hit-and-run accident while the other was threatening a girl with a weapon.
On Jan 2, 2023, Gandas drove his friend’s car without a proper license and caused several car accidents while switching lanes. Two drivers suffered light injuries as a result and Gandas fled.
The other incident took place on Sept 22, 2022, when Gandas got involved in an argument with a girl.
He then tried pulling the girl into a car but was prevented from doing so by the girl’s friends, which caused him to pull out a 19cm-long claw knife on them.
Police later rushed to the scene after receiving a police report. However, Gandas managed to escape and threw the claw knife underneath the car. It was later recovered by police.
Slapped with 19 charges
On Jul 23, Gandas was brought to court to face a total of 19 charges, which included mischief, arson, and violating the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Road Traffic Act.
He pleaded guilty to nine of the charges and was sentenced to three years, seven months, and eight weeks in prison, nine cane strokes, and a S$4,800 (approx. RM16,600) fine.
He was also banned from holding any level of a driver’s license for two years.
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