44-year-old pleads guilty over Joo Seng Road HDB fire; court orders mental health assessment
A 44-year-old man pleaded guilty on 22 June 2026 to starting a fire in a Joo Seng Road HDB flat that left 10 people, including two firefighters, requiring hospital treatment. The court ordered a mandatory treatment order assessment before sentencing in July.
SINGAPORE: A 44-year-old man pleaded guilty on 22 June 2026 to starting a fire in an HDB flat that left 10 people, including two firefighters, requiring hospital treatment. The court called for a mandatory treatment order (MTO) report before sentencing.
Under an MTO, eligible offenders undergo psychiatric treatment in lieu of serving a custodial sentence.
Liu Zheyuan admitted to one count of mischief by fire over the incident at an 18th-floor unit in Block 14 Joo Seng Road on 4 May.
The court heard that at about 9.40pm, Liu burned charcoal in his living room after placing two pieces of charcoal and fire starters into a stainless steel pot set on a metal rack near an open window. He later added more charcoal.
As the flames intensified, a plastic curtain caught fire, allowing the blaze to spread throughout the unit.
Liu attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. He then alerted his neighbours to evacuate and contacted the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Residents, including his elderly parents, suffered smoke inhalation.
In total, 10 people, among them two firefighters, required medical attention at hospital.
Mental health assessment ordered
According to court documents, the fire caused between S$80,000 and S$100,000 in damage.
Liu was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health following his arrest and was found to have been suffering from delusional disorder at the time of the offence.
He believed his neighbours were “shooting laser beams” and sending “strong currents through the ceiling” to disturb him, prompting him to light the charcoal in an attempt to ward off the perceived attack.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
According to SCDF’s annual statistics report released in February, the total number of fires rose by 3 per cent, from 1,990 cases in 2024 to 2,050 in 2025.
Of these incidents, 1,051 involved residential buildings, underscoring the continued prevalence of fires in housing areas.
The report also recorded an increase in fire-related injuries, with the number of people hurt rising from 80 in 2024 to 94 in 2025.
