DUBAI // A bored convict torched his blanket with a cigarette then left his cell to catch fire, a court heard.
Dubai Criminal Court heard that 20-year-old Emirati HA, who is serving a sentence at the central jail, used his cigarette to start a fire with his blanket then left it on the bed to spread the fire to the rest of the cell.
The incident happened on the afternoon of September 30, 2012. It was not clear in prosecution records why the case took so long to make it to court.
The Emirati was charged with setting fire to a cell and causing damage. He was not present in court to enter a plea.
“It was nearly 5.30pm when I noticed smoke on the cameras coming out of one of the cells,” said a prison warden. “I reported it right away then headed to the location of the cell where I knew that HA had started the fire.”
The next hearing is on September 9.
salamir@thenational.ae
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
AL%20BOOM
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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