A WOMAN went on trial on Monday for abetting her son to set fire to a relative's car at a multi-storey carpark.

Teo Sew Eng, 52, also faces another charge of intentionally aiding her son, Louis Hong Hsieh Shuen, 17, to commit mischief by fire to a Toyota van parked nearby.

The alleged offences took place at Block 7B Commonwealth Avenue on Oct 23, 2006.

She is said to have given a plastic bag containing a bottle of petrol, a packet of charcoal and a piece of face cloth to her son to commit the offences.

The damage to the car was $40,500, and to the van, $25,000.

Hong and his accomplice, Ho Yi Keow, 17, were separately put on probation last year for torching the car of Mr Ernest Tan, 56, husband of Hong's paternal aunt.

They pleaded guilty.

Mrs Tan, 52, a housewife, testified that Teo was the mistress of her late brother, Mr Anthony Hong Weng, a businessman, who died in 1998.

Her brother had left a will and some money for Hong, she said.

She and her younger sister were appointed the trustees for Louis Hong.

Her brother had told her Hong's mother was fond of gambling on shares, and that she should pass the money to Hong in piecemeal fashion.

The money was initially put in a bank. It was withdrawn and handed over to Teo who later claimed that she should have received $300,000.

The trial continues.