Family leaves state court after coroner’s inquest into Rizaldine Hassan’s death.Photo: Safras Khan
Steam from an aromatherapy diffuser that 35-year-old Rizaldine Hassan was using started a fire that claimed his life.
District Judge Mervyn Bay made the findings on Monday (April 18) at a coroner’s inquest into the death of an IT engineer while recording a verdict of misfortune on October 22 last year.
Rizardin suffered burns to 80 per cent of her body after one of two aroma diffusers she had lit caught fire in her apartment in Jurong East. According to previous media reports, the father of four went to the toilet in the master bedroom bathroom when the accident occurred.
Witnesses in the interrogation included Chok Wai Chen, operations manager of Shands International, the company that sells the Abita brand of aromatherapy diffusers used by Lizaldin. In response to a query, he said the correct procedure for filling a diffuser should be shown and such demonstrations should be carried out by distributors when selling units to customers.
Chok revealed that a distributor suffered burns while operating a similar diffuser in 2014. In the incident, the vendor poured essential oil directly into the diffuser’s flame, causing the diffuser to catch fire.
Mr Rizardin’s widow, Nurul Ashikin Noman, told the court the family had been using the diffuser for 18 months to deal with last year’s fog. She said the vendor who sold her family the diffuser did not demonstrate the product.
Nurul Asikin said her husband usually refills the diffuser for the family, and that she had done so without any problems a few days before the accident.
In handing down the sentence, DJ Bey said there were no signs of foul play and it was reported that Lizardin was not suffering from depression at the time of the accident. “Aromatherapy diffuser users should be aware of the volatile nature of essential oils and use caution when using them,” he said.
Nurul Asikin told reporters after the investigation that her children still want their father. She added that her family is seeking legal advice on whether to pursue civil action against the distribution company.
