A 24-year-old asylum seeker has been sentenced to three years in prison for arson in his room in the enforcement and supervision location (htl) of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) in Hoogeveen.
There were 19 residents and 12 employees at the location at the time of the fire. The arsonist has seriously endangered them, the judge finds.
The man wanted to speak to the IND on May 11, but that was not possible immediately. The location manager heard the man shout “I will come in jail”. Several witnesses saw the man in his twenties walking to his room. Immediately afterwards the fire alarm went off. Some saw the suspect jump from the window of his room on the first floor.
Six rooms were no longer habitable after the fire and four units had to be replaced. The COA claimed damages of more than 180,000 euros. But that was not fully substantiated and was rejected by the judge.
Two weeks ago, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded four years in prison for the asylum seeker. The judge agrees with the Public Prosecution Service that this is a serious and very dangerous offense. “Fire can quickly take on a major form.”
The man denies arson. His lawyer argued that it has not been established that the suspect set the fire. It may have already been going on when the man walked to his room. Moreover, it has not been established exactly how the fire started. The researchers believe it is likely that the fire was deliberately started. The judge sees sufficient evidence that the suspect is guilty of this.
The judge blames the man for not taking responsibility for his behavior. The twenty-something did not want to participate in a psychological examination. There is insufficient to impose mandatory treatment on the man. The judge agrees with the Public Prosecution Service that a long prison sentence is appropriate. But not four years, as requested by the Public Prosecution Service. The judge believes that three years is sufficient in this case.