Man jailed for Ibn Battuta Mall restaurant fire

DUBAI // A waiter will spend a year in jail after he was found guilty of starting a fire in the restaurant where he worked.

Prosecutors charged 28-year-old A A, from Egypt, with issuing threats, stealing a Samsung tablet and Dh800 in cash, and causing Dh4,500 worth of damage to Anatolia restaurant, in Ibn Battuta Mall.

He confessed to the theft and to damaging a computer screen but denied other charges at the Dubai Criminal Court last October and said that blaze began by mistake.

Records said that on June 5 this year, AA started the fire after getting into an argument with his boss.

“I had an argument with the manager a few days before because I hadn’t been paid, after which they told me I had to apologise or I would be reported to the police,” A A told the court.

The incident occurred after the defendant was asked to sign his contract of employment, restaurant owner M A told prosecutors.

“He refused to sign and said he doesn’t want to work with us anymore, then lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and demanded his passport and benefits,” the 42-year-old Iraqi said.

Shortly thereafter M A was notified about the fire in the restaurant kitchen, and when he checked the CCTV, he told the court he saw the defendant start the blaze.

The resulting power cut caused 35 kilos of foodstuffs kept in refrigerators to spoil.

AA will be deported after serving his sentence.