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)