A student accused of setting fire to part of his family home after an argument over money has been declared responsible for his actions following a psychiatric evaluation.
The High Criminal Court heard that the 23-year-old Bahraini underwent an assessment by the Health Ministry’s Medical Commission, which found him responsible for the acts attributed to him.
He has admitted charges of deliberately starting a fire in an inhabited property and endangering lives.
However, the case has been delayed pending a report detailing the extent of the damage caused and the cost of repairs. Hearings have been repeatedly adjourned while the court awaits the findings.
The university student sent threats on his family’s WhatsApp group shortly before he allegedly started the fire, the court earlier heard.
In interviews with the Public Prosecution, the defendant’s sister testified that her brother asked her for cash on the day of the April incident, but she told him she had none, later stating: “I know he will use it to buy drugs.”
“My brother threatened to burn the house if I didn’t give him money, but I didn’t really pay much attention because he often says he’ll do things like that,” the sister testified.
“But then, he sent a text on the family group chat, telling us he had started the arson.”
Another sister recounted seeing flames spread in and then out of his room before calling the Civil Defence. Firemen arrived in time to extinguish the blaze and bring the situation under control.
A Civil Defence investigation later concluded that the fire had been deliberately started.
The report found that one room sustained extensive damage, while four other rooms were affected by heavy smoke.
According to court documents, the house was ‘owned by heirs’, indicating that it had belonged to a deceased parent of the defendant and his siblings.
The trial has been adjourned to Monday, when the damage report is expected to be delivered.
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