JEDDAH, 15 March 2004 — Hafr Al-Batin public prison is functioning normally again after a fire broke out during Friday prayers, Al-Yaum newspaper reported.
A committee formed to investigate the cause of the fire has found evidence of arson, according to Hafr Al-Batin Mayor Hamed ibn Jabreen.
Suspicion focused on an inmate who had caused a fire the previous week, which the prison administration was able to contain. However, this week’s fire proved too much for the warders and they had to call in the Civil Defense.
Other inmates also fingered the man because he turned up late for Friday prayers on the day of the fire.
The suspect had spent time in the Traffic Department jail for forging license plates but had been transferred to Hafr Al-Batin public prison after he set fire to his cell there.
He has been diagnosed as suffering from mental problems and had attempted suicide several times, Al-Yaum said.
Due to the nature of his offenses, other inmates had repeatedly asked the man be isolated from them, but their requests fell on deaf ears.
