Man accused of setting detention centre on fire, endangering 200 inmates

A detainee is accused of setting fire to ward B of Al Gussais detention centre and posing danger to about 200 inmates, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

MIA, 31, Jobless, Emirati, is also accused of causing damages to Dubai Police properties.

First Sergeant Ismaeel Abdullah testified that at around 2.25am on October 1, 2010, he saw the detainee MIA, via the control cameras setting fire to two mattresses he put at the door of the ward B using a lighter.

“I notified the officer on duty and took a fire extinguisher and rushed to the ward where there were other 200 detainees. Ambulances were rushed to the station because some of the detainees had suffocation from the smokes,” he testified.

The officer testified that the accused is under psychological treatment. He used to create problems and asked for tablets more than the prescribed quantity.

“As his request was refused except for the prescribed quantity, he threatened with setting fire to the detention centre,” he testified.

The accused repeated the crime on November 27, when he was detained in a private cell. He is being prosecuted in another case for setting fire to the cell and destroying properties.

First policeman Saeed Abdul Aziz testified he saw smoke coming out from a cell. “I called the civil defence and rushed to the cell,” he testified.

The two cases were adjourned to June 7.

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