A man without a criminal record has been remanded in custody following his appearance before a judicial authority, according to a statement released today by the PJ. The announcement follows the PJ’s earlier report on Friday regarding the arrest of the suspect, explaining that the fire occurred on the afternoon of August 2. The accused, who was residing at his mother-in-law’s home, allegedly set fire to two rooms using a direct flame, causing nearly total destruction and rendering it uninhabitable.
Investigations carried out by the PJ’s Criminal Investigation Department in Leiria revealed that the crime was motivated by the departure of the man’s wife and daughter from the property a few days earlier, in a pre-existing context of domestic violence.
A PJ source told Lusa that the situation of domestic violence had been flagged, and there is an ongoing process.
In Ourém, Santarém, another man without a criminal record has been detained, suspected of committing at least four forest fire crimes. He is now required to report to the police station twice daily, according to the PJ. This arrest had been reported on Thursday, with Lusa noting that the suspect is a firefighter from the Ourém Volunteer Fire Department, suspected of being responsible for at least four forest fires in the area during June and July.
The PJ stated that the forest fires occurred on June 26, and July 1, 17, and 19. The suspect allegedly set the fires using delaying devices in an area with a vast forested zone populated with pine, oaks, eucalyptus, and brush, in proximity to several residential clusters and commercial complexes.
The investigation suspects the firefighter may also be responsible for other forest fires in the same district of Santarém, based on spatial-temporal patterns and method of operation.
A PJ source from the Central Directorate, based in Coimbra, told Lusa at the time that the investigation believes the accused produced the devices used, given the objects seized during searches.
The same source suggested the suspect’s actions might have been motivated by potential financial gains from being called upon to combat the fires.
