| James Kon |
THE Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) detained a local man for allegedly setting fire to his foster mother’s two-storey house after she refused to hand over money to him.
Superintendent Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Ghani, Acting Officer Commanding Police District (OCPD) of Brunei-Muara, yesterday told a press conference, that the incident took place at Simpang 120 of the Kampong Mentiri National Housing Scheme on the morning of April 5.
Assistant Criminal Investigation Officer at Brunei-Muara Police District ASP Nurol Faezah binti Mohd Faisal Al-Sufri and Officer-in-Charge of the Muara Police Station ASP Zamri Salleh bin Haji Mahmud were also present at the press conference held at the BSB Central Police Station.
The man was believed to be under the influence of drugs at the time.
“From investigations, we suspect that arson was committed on the house,” he said, adding “based on the evidence and witnesses’ statements, the police apprehended an unemployed local man named Haji Mohd Faizal bin Haji Wasli.”
“Police have found that the suspect, aged 35, set fire to the house using a lighter while he – as we believe – was under the influence of drugs. The house belongs to his foster mother and the suspect is staying in the same house. Fortunately, there were no injuries or loss of life from the fire,” he said.
Superintendent Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam said, “The suspect had threatened to burn down the house previously, but had not gone through with it. Under the influence of drugs and being unemployed, he became aggressive after his foster mother did not give him money.”
The Magistrate’s Court ordered the suspect to be remanded in police custody for seven days for further investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 436, Chapter 22 of the Criminal Procedure Code which states that it is a hazardous act to set fire to a building, knowing that the act can cause destruction. The offence carries a life sentence.
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