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S'porean charged with starting fire in Batam housing complex
By Qiuyi Tan | Posted: 22 August 2012 2137 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Jakarta Post newspaper said a Singaporean has been charged with starting a fire which swept through a Batam housing complex early Tuesday morning.
Forty-five-year-old Gerri Kasan is alleged to have sparked the blaze which destroyed some 50 semi-permanent homes in Batam's Kampong Seraya district.
The report said the fire killed a nine-year-old girl and left some 200 others homeless.
Police investigations are on-going, but by-standers said the fire began in a house owned by Gerri's brother-in-law.
The newspaper report said Gerri surrendered himself to Batam police.
He allegedly admitted to burning a pair of shoes following a quarrel with his Indonesian wife, and was unaware it would spark an inferno.
Police have charged Gerri with reckless burning, saying he may face life imprisonment for his actions.
Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said officers from its Batam consulate are in contact with the Singaporean.
- CNA/cc
By Qiuyi Tan | Posted: 22 August 2012 2137 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Jakarta Post newspaper said a Singaporean has been charged with starting a fire which swept through a Batam housing complex early Tuesday morning.
Forty-five-year-old Gerri Kasan is alleged to have sparked the blaze which destroyed some 50 semi-permanent homes in Batam's Kampong Seraya district.
The report said the fire killed a nine-year-old girl and left some 200 others homeless.
Police investigations are on-going, but by-standers said the fire began in a house owned by Gerri's brother-in-law.
The newspaper report said Gerri surrendered himself to Batam police.
He allegedly admitted to burning a pair of shoes following a quarrel with his Indonesian wife, and was unaware it would spark an inferno.
Police have charged Gerri with reckless burning, saying he may face life imprisonment for his actions.
Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said officers from its Batam consulate are in contact with the Singaporean.
- CNA/cc
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