Prosecutors in Alicante have asked for a sentence of 15 years in prison for a Torrevieja man accused of insurance fraud. The incident itself took place in October 2012, but the case wasn’t heard in court until this week. The man reported the fire to the Guardia Civil himself, claiming that persons unknown had broken in and burned down the bar in Torrevieja.
However, an investigation ensued and Guardia Civil discovered that the true perpetrator was likely to be the owner himself and two weeks after the arson attack, he was arrested. According to a statement by the prosecutors office, on October 6th 2012 in the early hours of the morning, the defendant entered the bar at dawn, sprayed alcohol on a shelf, set it alight and left the premesis, which was insured. The fire then spread to the upper floors of the building where the bar was located. Four residents of the building needed treatment and the bar itself, which was being rented by the defendant, suffered damages of more than €24,000.
The prosecutor has requested a prison sentence of 15 years and five months for the crimes of arson, attempted fraud and simulation of crime.