SINGAPORE — A 46-year-old woman has been sentenced to five months in jail after setting fire to papers inside her Sembawang flat while believing she had been trapped inside by her former boyfriend.
Jasmine Helena Halim admitted to intentionally setting fire to the unit, triggering a blaze that forced about 30 residents to evacuate from the building.
Breakup Happened on the Day of the Fire
The fire broke out at around 5.15pm on June 30 at a 10th-floor unit in Block 512 Wellington Circle.
Earlier that day, Helena had broken up with her boyfriend. At around 5pm, she became convinced that he had trapped her inside her own home.
She later reportedly told an investigation officer that she believed she had been locked inside the flat for weeks without food, although she had not sought help from anyone during that period.
She Set Papers on Fire to Create an ‘Escape Route’
Believing she needed a way out, Helena used a lighter to set fire to six pieces of paper.
She then threw the burning papers into a bedroom in what was described as an attempt to create an “escape route.”
But the situation quickly spiralled out of control.
The flames spread through the unit and also damaged the windows of a neighbouring flat.
Around 30 Residents Were Evacuated
Firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze, but the incident caused alarm throughout the residential block.
About 30 residents were evacuated while emergency responders dealt with the fire.
The incident also resulted in more than S$10,000 in repair costs, with no compensation made at the time of sentencing.
Woman Was Arrested the Same Day
Helena was arrested on the day of the fire and had remained in remand before her sentencing.
The prosecution noted that she had previous convictions involving theft and property-related offences, although she had no previous conviction for arson.
The court was also told that the fire had caused public alarm and inconvenience to residents in the area.
Five Months Behind Bars
On September 9, Helena was sentenced to five months in jail after admitting to intentionally setting the fire.
The case centred on a terrifying chain of events that began with her belief that she was trapped — and ended with a fire spreading through her home and neighbours being forced to evacuate.
The Bottom Line
What began as a woman’s attempt to create what she believed was an escape route ended with a dangerous fire, damaged property and dozens of residents being evacuated.
Jasmine Helena Halim will now spend five months in jail after intentionally setting fire to papers inside her Sembawang flat.
But the frightening question remains: what could have happened if the fire had spread even further through the residential block?
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