Orphanage caretaker sets fire to girl

TANGERANG: For 10-year-old Irma, life in the orphanage turned nightmarish on Tuesday after a caretaker intentionally set fire to kerosene she was standing near that resulted in Irma being hospitalized at Tangerang General Hospital for burns late on Tuesday.

Irma, who lives in Al-Hanifah orphanage in Pasar Kemis, Tangerang regency, was in the kitchen when orphanage caretaker Henny Suryono saw that kerosene had spilled on the floor.

Henny was very angry although she had ordered Tian, another orphan there, to buy the kerosene earlier.

"She was angry at me because I was there at the time. Then she set fire to a piece of paper and placed it on the kerosene. Suddenly, the flames shot up and burned me," Irma said in her hospital room.

Neighbors saw Irma running out of the kitchen crying and tried to help put out the fire. They rushed her to the nearest clinic and later sent her to the hospital so she could receive better treatment.

Pasar Kemis police chief Adj. Comr. Alit said the police would not arrest Henny as it was a domestic incident. -- JP