Man to be charged over fire allegedly set outside mosque at UOB Plaza

A 50-year-old Chinese man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in causing a fire outside a mosque at Raffles Place. 

In a statement on Saturday (Sept 26), police said they were alerted to a fire at about 9pm on Sept 25 outside the mosque at 80 Raffles Place.

Online checks indicate that the above-mentioned address corresponds to Masjid Moulana Mohamed Ali, an underground mosque located in the Central Business District. 

Preliminary investigations found that the man had allegedly placed an oil tin at the entrance of the mosque and set fire to a piece of undergarment inside the tin before leaving the scene.

The fire was extinguished by a member of the public, and no injuries were reported.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of police cameras, officers from the central police division established the man's identity and arrested him within three hours of the report.

A lighter was also seized as a case exhibit.

The police said they have zero tolerance for acts that endanger the lives or safety of others and will not hesitate to act against those who blatantly disregard the law.

The man is expected to be charged in court on Saturday with causing or contributing to a risk of dangerous fire, an offence under Section 285 of the Penal Code 1871.

If convicted, the offence carries a penalty of up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both.

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xingying.koh@asiaone.com