A 37-year-old man in Chiayi has been charged over two failed attempts to burn down a factory after the owner turned down his request for a loan.

• The dispute started when the factory owner refused to lend him money.
• On the first attempt, he sprayed insecticide on an office desk and lit it, scorching computers, furniture, floor and metal walls.
• Two days later he came back while people were still inside, sprayed motorcycle fuel additive near the rolling shutter door and set it alight, charring the door.
• Police arrested him in Dongshi the next day, and he admitted to both attempts.

Outlook: Prosecutors want him sentenced separately on two attempted arson counts, one of them for setting fire to a building with people inside, which carries the heavier penalty.