Court reduces sentences of arson convicts

The First High Criminal Court of Appeal yesterday reduced the five years imprisonment sentence issued against two men, who burnt two tents that belonged to a municipal council candidate last year, to one year imprisonment and community service. This came as the court accepted the men’s appeal and amended the previously issued verdict.

The appellants were sentenced by the First High Criminal Court, which convicted them of burning the tents of Ali Saleh Hussain, who was a candidate for last year’s municipal elections, and damaging private property. The details of the case showed that the police was alerted about a fire that erupted at the candidate’s tents in the seventh constituency in Northern Governorate, near Damistan village. After dousing the fire, firefighters found a container disposed of near the tents with traces of gasoline in it.

The DNA samples taken from the containers led to the first defendant, who led the cops to his accomplice after being confronted with the crime, according to Prosecutors. Both defendants informed prosecutors that they agreed to burn the candidate’s tents by pouring gasoline on it and setting it ablaze using a lighter.

They also said that they panicked because of the quick spread of the fire and threw away the container near the tents. In the report of the crime scene investigation team, it was mentioned that both tents were completely burnt, while the forensic laboratory report confirmed that the samples taken from the container belonged to the first defendant.