Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report   

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This harrowing video seen six million times online shows a scrap collector setting fire to a sleeping homeless man for a joke to cheer himself up.

CCTV footage dated 11th January shows the suspect Mr Huang strolling through a park in the early hours of the morning when he comes across Mr Sun on a wooden park bench.

Authorities in the town of Chang’an, which is in Dongguan in South China’s Guangdong Province, said Mr Huang set fire to Mr Sun’s blanket using his lighter because business was bad and he had not found much scrap to resell.

In the video, Mr Sun is oblivious to his burning blanket as two patrolling officers run over to put out the flames, waking the victim up in the process.

Officer Wu Guangjun, who was patrolling Changqing Street Park with a partner, recalled: “He was fast asleep and didn’t realise his feet were on fire.

“After we put out the fire, we saw that his feet had been burnt.”

However, while questioning Mr Sun, Mr Huang is seen walking back to the scene of the crime, speaking to the officers and also checking on the victim and feigning concern.

Officer Wu, who apparently did not find Mr Huang suspicious, said Mr Sun refused to go to hospital, saying he would take himself the following morning.

But when patrolling motorcycle police were sent around to check on Mr Sun, they found him still sitting on the same parked bench.

Policeman Huang Xing said: “The skin on his feet were charred and he was covered in blisters.

“It was heartbreaking. We called for paramedics, and my colleague carried him to an ambulance.”

Mr Sun was treated at Dongguan Chang’an Hospital for his injuries, which were reportedly not life-threatening.

Meanwhile, local police inspecting CCTV cameras discovered Mr Huang’s involvement.

The suspect, who makes a living as a waste collector, was arrested the following day.

According to the police, Mr Huang told investigators he set fire to Mr Sun “as a joke”.

He returned to check on his victim “for the thrill” and to cheer himself up because he had not made much money recently from selling recyclable goods.

He faces charges of arson and causing intentional harm, according to the police.

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