A BRUISED AND BATTERED ALLEGED FIREBUG IN COURT FOR KAMPONG AYER FIRE
By Liza Mohamad      

Bandar Seri Begawan – An alleged young firebug looking bewildered, bruised and battered and terribly out of sorts caused a sensation when he appeared in court yesterday charged with setting fire to 11 Brunei Water Village homes on June 5.

Unemployed 23-year-old Roslan bin Usop @ Mohd Yusof, who is accused of being responsible in setting fire to the houses in Kampong Ayer, produced yesterday before Chief Magistrate Hairolarni bin Abd Majid, was ordered to be mentally examined.

Roslan is presently facing life imprisonment for committing mischief by fire, Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhana binte Hj Sudin told the court.

On June 3, Roslan was fined $500 for stealing a 60hp boat at house No: 131, Kampong Peramu, in Kampong Ayer whereby he was given till June 10 to settle the fine.

However it was alleged in court that he was unable to raise the cash and in a state of confusion, the accused allegedly burned the houses knowing that it would cause destruction.

DPP Suhana yesterday made an application for the accused to be sent for observation at the Mental Health Unit in RIPAS Hospital for two weeks for observation to assess his mental state whether the accused is fit to stand trial.

Urine and blood samples have been taken and the laboratory result is still pending. However police investigation was still incomplete, DPP Suhana informed the court. Therefore the court fixed July 4 for mention.

It was not known how Roslan received the bruises and the battering. But it is understood that angry villagers beat him up soon after the fire.

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