THEY made off with eight luxury cars worth over RM2 million ($835,000) in the wee hours of the morning.

But instead of just quietly escaping with their spoils, the car thieves torched the showroom, and left a salesman to die.

Someone saw the raging flames and called the fire department. But it was too late for car dealer Lim Sooi Huah, 41.

His charred body was found in the building's kitchen.

A fire department spokesman told China Press that they received a call about the fire at 4.23am, got to the scene in about a minute, and put the flames out by 4.45am.

Mr Lim was burnt beyond recognition, but family members managed to identify him from a set of keys found on him.

His car was also found parked outside the showroom, located in George Town, Penang.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Mr Lim had also suffered multiple bodily injuries. It is not clear how he had received the wounds.

A plastic container for petrol was also found in the dealership office.

Mr Lim's clothes have been sent for testing to see if any traces of inflammable liquid can be found.

Factory van driver Raja Rafizi Umran, 28, told The Star he was on his way to pick up some passengers at 4am on Monday when he noticed the fire.

He said: "I stopped to check and heard a man shouting for help. I tried to run inside but it was too hot." Another witness, who declined to be named, told The Star he was in the area with a friend at 3am and wondered why the showroom lights were still on.

He added: "The gates were open and I noticed someone sitting inside a Toyota Estima. I then left with my friend. I drove by the dealership an hour later and saw it on fire."

Lured

Assistant Commissioner Azam Abd Hamid said police believe Mr Lim could have been lured to the showroom by someone posing as a prospective buyer.

He could also have been taken there by force from his home.

China Press reported that Mr Lim had earlier told his brother that some customers had arranged to view the cars in the evening.

Mr Azam said: "The robbery was quite well planned as the hard drive for the compound's five CCTV cameras was destroyed in the fire. We have classified the case as murder.

The stolen cars were a Mercedes Benz CLS, a Toyota Caldina, three Toyota Alphards and three BMWs worth between RM190,000 and RM450,000 each.

All eight cars were recovered at about 6pm the same day, following a tip-off.

Mr Azam said a Nepalese guard at the showroom has been detained to facilitate investigations.

A relative told China Press that Mr Lim seldom went to the showroom at night, leading the family to suspect that he was taken there by force.

The relative added that Mr Lim was an easy-going man. He had worked at the dealership for over a year, and his death came as a shock to everyone.

Mr Lim leaves behind two daughters and one son. The oldest child is 13, and the youngest is around 4 years old.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 12, 2008.