Instead, Ho Ki Yeow, 17, was given a second chance by District Judge Bala Reddy in the Community Court.

Yesterday, the judge decided to place Ho on probation for 21 months. As part of the conditions for probation, Ho will have to stay at the Bukit Batok Boys' Home for a year.

On the occasions when he is allowed out of the home, he will have to observe a curfew and stay indoors between 10pm and 6am. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.

Ho had earlier admitted setting fire to a Nissan Sunny at the multi-storey carpark at Block 7B Commonwealth Avenue on Oct 24 last year.

However, he claimed that the idea came from his friend, Louis Hong Hsieh Shuen, 16.

The court heard that Hong told Ho he had a 'problem' with the car's owner and wanted to set fire to the vehicle. Ho agreed to help.

The blaze caused damage amounting to $40,500 to Mr Ernest Tan Kwan Boon's car.

Mr Tan, 56, who was overseas at the time of the offence, is the husband of Hong's paternal aunt. Investigations showed that Hong and Mr Tan's wife bore grudges against each other over an inheritance left behind by the boy's father.

It was not revealed in court what the inheritance entailed, or when the boy's father died.

The idea of setting fire to the car allegedly came to Hong between May and July last year. He revealed his plan to Ho and another classmate, but only Ho agreed to help.

Hong is said to have also told his mother, Teo Sew Eng, 52, of the plan.

Both will go on trial next month for their alleged roles in the crime.

Teo allegedly gave her son a packet of charcoal, a plastic bottle filled with petrol and a face towel. On Oct 23, Ho poured half a bottle of petrol on the car's bonnet and placed charcoal on top of it.

Hong was believed to have then put the remaining petrol on the charcoal and lit the towel with a lighter.

Ho then threw the towel onto the bonnet.

Ho and Hong were arrested about three months later.

The former could have been jailed for up to seven years.

CHONG CHEE KIN