'I am a broken man': Man burnt in bank fire tells court of his pain
A grandfather who suffered deep burns when an asylum seeker set fire to a suburban bank says he has been left a broken man.
Choy Hok, then 71, suffered deep burns to his face, neck, arms and hands when Nur Islam poured petrol on the floor of the Commonwealth Bank at Springvale on November 18, 2016 and used a cigarette lighter to spark the inferno.
"My life has been ruined after this incident ... the effects and consequences have been devastating and life-changing," Mr Hok said in his victim statement, read by prosecutor Kevin Doyle.
"I am a broken man and my family and I will never recover."
Mr Hok, who has since returned to Cambodia, said he "looked like a freak" and was afraid of "children looking at me like I was a monster", the County Court was told.
Formerly an independent, capable person, he said he now felt "like a baby" as his ability to drive is affected, he's lost his livelihood and even had to ask a stranger to undo his zipper in the bathroom after his hands were so badly burnt.
Islam has pleaded guilty to one charge of arson, four of recklessly causing serious injury and another 11 of recklessly causing injury, with more than 90 charges withdrawn.
There were about 39 people inside the bank at the time he caught fire and ran around the bank as customers and staff tried to leave.
The court heard Islam had issues with his ATM card, left the bank, picked up a plastic container and filled it up at the nearby petrol station before returning.
"He was asked why he lit the fire and he said he couldn't think of why he did it, but he felt angry at the time," Mr Doyle said.
Islam spent four-and-a-half-months in hospital and has served more than two years in pre-sentence detention.
His plea hearing continues, with the defence yet to address the judge.
AAP