A JILTED lover decided to torch his ex-girlfriend’s car, but then set fire to the wrong vehicle.
The man, described only as an Arab national by authorities, was angry after being dumped by his former partner.
He told police he doused the vehicle in petrol before setting it ablaze in West Riffa, only to discover later that it was the wrong car.
Officers arrested him based on information provided by an informant, who told police that the suspect, aged in his 20s, was overheard bragging about setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle.
The owner of the torched vehicle had told investigators he was shocked by the incident.
“A special team was formed to get to the bottom of the incident, after the owner was contacted and revealed he was unaware of any malfunction in the vehicle,” revealed an investigator in an interview with the Interior Ministry’s Al Amn magazine.
“Our sources told us they had come across a group of people discussing a car fire and how one of the men boasted he had set fire to his former girlfriend’s car as an act of revenge.
Investigation
“The police team was dispatched to the area and the men were questioned.”
The information was provided to the publication by the Southern Governorate Police Directorate’s head of research and investigation.
He said fire investigators determined that the vehicle blaze had been started deliberately.
During questioning the man accused of starting the fire is said to have confessed, revealing that he was aided by his cousin.
Fingerprints of both suspects were later found on the charred remains of the car.
In his statement, the jilted boyfriend revealed he was heartbroken after the breakup – despite the couple’s relationship being plagued with problems.
He admitted that he asked his cousin for help and poured a canister of petrol over the car prior to setting it alight.
It is understood he targeted the wrong vehicle despite loitering in the vicinity of the car for several hours.
“The suspects’ home was raided and all incriminating articles were recovered,” said the head of research and investigation, whose name was not given. They have been referred to the Public Prosecution.”
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