S'pore man, 35, demanded S$10,000 from mother for using his car, threatened to burn down house

Dissatisfied that his parents drove his car without his permission, a man in Singapore demanded S$10,000 in compensation from his mother.

The mother was away on a business trip at the time.

When she refused, he threatened to burn down the house and proceeded to set her clothes on fire on the stove.

Huang Zhihao (transliteration), 35, pleaded guilty to one count of mischief and was sentenced to five days in jail, reported Shin Min Daily News.

Demanded money for using his car

On Aug. 23, 2025, at 10:30am, Huang called his mother, who was on a business trip to China, claiming that she and his father had used his car without his permission.

He then asked for S$3,000 in compensation from them.

After the mother refused to pay, Huang increased the amount to S$10,000.

When his mother still refused to pay, Huang threatened to burn their house down and then hung up immediately.

The mother then called Huang's twin brother, who was also home at the time, and asked him to call the police for help.

Huang then went into his mother's bedroom and took some of her clothes from the closet.

He later took the clothes to the kitchen and burned them over the stove.

Arrested

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was called to the house, where officers found the clothes still smouldering. Huang and his twin brother were unharmed.

Huang was arrested that day and charged two days later.

He was subsequently remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for a psychiatric evaluation.

Huang admitted to his wrongdoing and said he would take full responsibility.

His lawyer noted that the mental health assessment report found that his condition was not the cause of the offence, but urged the court to consider that, aside from some burned clothing, no one was injured, and to grant him leniency.

The judge ultimately sentenced him to five days’ jail.

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