Prisoner pleads guilty to setting blanket on fire

Dubai: An inmate on Wednesday pleaded guilty and admitted that he deliberately set his blanket on fire in a Dubai Central Prison cell, a court heard on Wednesday.

Prosecutors accused the 30-year-old Emirati prisoner of starting a deliberate fire and damaging public property.

"I am guilty… I started up the fire and wrecked the blanket," the inmate, S.B., said when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

When asked by Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir on why he started the fire, the defendant replied: "Your honour, I am guilty and I want a quick judgment."

According to the charges, prosecutors said the suspect set his blanket on fire in the prison cell and damaged the blanket, worth Dh55 and classified as government property.

A Omani first policeman testified that incident took place in the third building of the Central Jail.

"I saw the fire on the surveillance cameras as soon as I walked into the control room. I rushed to cell which was on fire and saw S.B…. smoke engulfed the place," the Omani first policeman told prosecutors.

"I returned to the control room and reported the duty officer. After the fire was put out, preliminary investigations unveiled that S.B. had deliberately lit his blanket and caused the fire."

An Egyptian psychiatrist, who examined the defendant, told prosecutors: "The suspect is sane and does not suffer any mental or stress disease. He is also responsible for his actions."

The public prosecutor said the defendant had a rich criminal record in ‘prison arson cases'.

The verdict will be heard on April 28.