Why did the retiree feel compelled to take matters into his own hands?

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The Retiree's Motivation for Setting Fires

A 68-year-old retiree felt compelled to take matters into his own hands and set fire to cardboard cat houses due to his belief that they were unhygienic and attracted pests, coupled with a perceived lack of action from authorities after he raised his concerns. This frustration led him to engage in acts of mischief by fire, resulting in his sentencing.
Hygiene and Pest Concerns

Koh Teng Boo, the retiree in question, targeted makeshift shelters intended for community cats because he believed they posed a hygiene risk. He was concerned that these cardboard structures, often stocked with food and water, were attracting birds and other pests to the void deck areas.
Perceived Inaction from Authorities

The court heard that Koh had previously approached his Member of Parliament to voice his complaints about the cat houses. However, he stated that he felt "no visible action" was taken in response to his concerns. This lack of perceived progress or intervention from official channels contributed to his decision to resort to his own methods.
Acts of Mischief by Fire

Driven by his concerns and frustration, Koh resorted to setting fire to the cat houses on multiple occasions. His actions included burning three such shelters in October 2025 by throwing them into an incense burner bin and igniting them. He continued these acts, with another incident involving a lighter to ignite a shelter on November 19, 2025, and an attempted burning of more shelters in the early hours of November 20, 2025, which was fortunately extinguished by passers-by.

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Why did the retiree feel compelled to take matters into his own hands?

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