Ruined beyond any hope of repair, the wet market along Jurong West Street 41 that was completely razed by a raging fire last week will soon be demolished.
The blaze had engulfed the coffee shop and wet market in the wee hours of last Tuesday morning, prompting the evacuation of 300 people around the area. Close to 50 market and food stallholders had their businesses literally going up in flames, leaving their livelihoods in a lurch. It may take a year to rebuild the wet market.
While business owners affected by the fire are getting financial aid in relocating to other sites, they’re also getting closure in the form of an arrest — police have nabbed a 41-year-old man believed to have been the firestarter.
Lim Ying Siang was charged on Saturday for allegedly setting fire to styrofoam boxes with the intention to destroy the market, TODAY reported. He faces life imprisonment or up to 10 years in jail and a fine for the offence of mischief by fire with intent to destroy a building.
TODAY’s queries on the ground also revealed that residents of the area do not recognise him.
