Inmate charged with arson in Central Prison

The 28-year-old Emirati has been accused in the Court of First Instance for allegedly starting a fire in his cell, damaging public property estimated at Dh1,198.

Dubai - An inmate at the Central Prison has been charged with arson on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Emirati has been accused in the Court of First Instance for allegedly starting a fire in his cell, damaging public property estimated at Dh1,198. The damaged items included a blanket, paints and the floor.

The incident allegedly happened on February 26.

A police corporal said in the investigation that the accused M.B. had a record of possessing and using drugs as well as promoting the substance among others.

“I went to M.B.’s cell as soon as my colleague alerted me about the fire. The blanket in the cell, where M.B. was kept alone, was burning. I put it out with an extinguisher,” the officer told the prosecutor.

The corporal described M.B. as sitting there indifferent about the fire.

In its remarks on the case, the Public Prosecution noted that M.B. declined going to the prosecutors when summoned for investigation, as per two letters from Al Rashidiyah and Lahbab police stations’ directors.

The next hearing has been scheduled for July 1.

mary@khaleejtimes.com