Dubai-based Expat Jailed For Burning 13 Vehicles In Revenge

A driver has been jailed for three years for dousing a rival’s bus with petrol, setting it on fire and accidentally burning 12 cars at Dubai Outlet Mall’s parking in a fit of revenge.

A 24-year-old Pakistani minibus driver was said to have dropped off staff who work at Dubai Outlet Mall and had parked his minibus in the outer parking. He received a phone call from his friend at 2 am, according to records, and was told his vehicle was on fire.

He rushed out to the parking to check what had happened before he was notified by police interrogators and firefighters that his vehicle had been deliberately set on fire.
Upon checking the CCTVs, police interrogators and crime scene investigators saw a man running away from the burning bus with his clothes on fire.

Police identified the driver, a 42-year-old Pakistani man, from the plate number of the minibus and apprehended him. The suspect pleaded guilty when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Pakistani driver claimed to prosecutors that he was not aware that the suspect had been driving staff to the mall.

After his arrest, he admitted that he set the minibus on fire because the 24-year-old had been causing him to lose business. He alleged that he used to drive staff to Outlet Mall before the 24-year-old driver started transporting staff at lower prices. He claimed that the 24-year-old constantly and repeatedly reduced the prices of transporting staffers and he decided to take revenge because he was losing financially and couldn’t afford to lose any further. He admitted that he poured benzene on the minibus and tossed a lit up cigarette on it.”

Records said 12 cars were also gutted by fire as they had been parked beside the minibus. The primary judgement remains subject to appeal.