73-year-old man arrested by Judicial Police for three forest fires in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
The Judicial Police arrested a 73-year-old retiree suspected of having set three fires in Algodres, with previous criminal convictions for the same type of crime.
Retiree with previous convictions arrested for fires in Algodres
The Judicial Police (PJ) arrested a 73-year-old man, a retiree, suspected of having caused three forest fires in Algodres, in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, reports rr.pt. The most recent fire occurred on Monday and is believed to have been started through the creation of seven distinct fire sources.
The arrest, carried out outside of flagrante delicto, was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Guarda, in coordination with the Working Group for the Reduction of Ignitions in Rural Areas – Inner Centre. This group includes members of the GNR, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) and the PJ itself.
According to the investigation, the fires were set "through direct flame in shrubland and scrub", in conditions of very high temperature, cross wind and low humidity. The fire risk was classified by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) as elevated.
The PJ considers that the suspect endangered "vast areas of vegetation", as well as buildings for agricultural and livestock support. The man reportedly justified his actions with "the need to clean up land and rubbish".
The most recent fire did not assume greater proportions thanks to rapid detection by the GNR and the intervention of the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo.
The detainee has previous criminal convictions for forest fire and had already been arrested in flagrante delicto by the GNR of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo on suspicion of committing the same type of crime.
The PJ further states that a parallel investigation is underway in which the man is suspected of having caused a forest fire on 11 June, in the same area, at a time when the risk was classified as very elevated.
The accused will be brought before the first judicial hearing for the application of the coercive measures deemed appropriate. The investigation into the three fires now being investigated is directed by the Investigation and Criminal Prosecution Department (DIAP) of the Guarda.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)