The Judiciary Police (PJ) nabbed a local man for arson, PJ spokesman Leng Kam Lon said during a regular press conference.
Leng identified the suspect as a 63-year-old man surnamed Leong, who claimed to be jobless.
According to Leng, the Judiciary Police received a report from the Fire Services Bureau (CB) around midnight on Saturday about a suspicious fire at a vendor stall near Rua do Lu Cao (盧九街). Arriving at the scene, PJ officers discovered two burnt spots - a wall calendar and a stack of joss paper.
When questioned, the stall owner told police he had heard someone shout about a fire earlier that night.
Upon arriving at the scene and discovering the blaze, the owner extinguished it himself, Leng said, adding that the victim estimated the loss at around 20 patacas.
Investigating the circumstances behind the blaze, Leng said, PJ officers later identified Leong as the suspect and took him from his flat in Fai Chi Kei district to the PJ headquarters for questioning on Monday.
According to Leng, PJ officers confirmed that Leong had left his flat around 9 p.m. on Saturday, holding a can of beer, and wandered around the neighbourhood. He lingered around the vendor stall and when he saw no one was around, he took out a lighter and set fire to the wall calendar and the stack of joss paper, Leng said, adding that Leong then walked to a nearby street to observe the fire.
Leong was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday morning, facing an arson charge.
Leng said there appeared to have been no prior conflict between Leong and the victim, and the motive remained under investigation. He reminded the public that arson is a serious crime that can have disastrous consequences. He underlined that a residential building is located near the scene of the arson attack.
According to Article 264 of the Macau Penal Code, Leong faces a prison term between three and 10 years.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Leng Kam Lon looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Armindo Neves
