Man arrested for arson

Man arrested for arson

JAKARTA (JP): A 25-year-old man has been arrested for
allegedly setting his family's house alight, police said
yesterday.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the
alleged arsonist, Eng Hin, set his father's house in Tangerang
alight because he had prohibited him from marrying his
girlfriend.

Eng Hin had often threatened to burn the house whenever he and
his father argued about his wish to marry his girlfriend,
Aritonang said.

The suspect was arrested Monday soon after setting fire to a
mattress, he said.

Flames from the burning mattress spread quickly and burned
three rooms in the house in Curug Wetan, Tangerang.

"All the family members ran out of the house as soon as they
saw Eng Hin had burned the mattress," Aritonang said.

"Eng Hin, however, insisted on staying in the burning house.
He was found unconscious in one of the three burned-out rooms,"
he said.

The fire started at around 4:30 p.m. and was extinguished an
hour later by firefighters and neighbors.

Eng Hin is being detained at Curug police subprecinct in
Tangerang for further investigation.

Aritonang said Eng Hin could not be released even though his
father, Chen Junio alias Go Ban, 50, had declined pressing
charges.

"It is not an offense that warrants a complaint so the suspect
will be taken to court even though nobody is suing him," he said.

Eng Hin will be charged under Article 187 of the Criminal Code
on arson. If found guilty, he could face a maximum of 15 years'
imprisonment. (cst)