Tunisian Judiciary Investigates in ‘Suspicious’ Fire Incidents

Arab World

May 18th, 8:46am

Tunis- Al Mongi Al Saidani

Tunisian youths sort freshly picked dates at a farm in Jemna, southern Tunisia October 17, 2016. Picture was taken October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

The Tunisian prosecution has given the green light to investigate a series of fires that targeted private economic institutions. These suspicious incidents included 30 stores, a factory, 10 hectares of grains, and a phosphate locomotive. They were a reminder of the “scorched earth” policy that was linked to calls to oust the government and dissolve the parliament. The fires raised suspicions on the parties standing behind them, knowing that in 2017 gangs set fire to swathes of forests and grain farms as a way to blackmail landowners. The prosecution ordered opening an investigation to know the fire starters in the Tunisian capital, Beja, Sousse, Sidi Bouzid, and Gafsa. In this context, Head of the Media and Communication Unit of the First Instance Court in Tunis Mohsen Dali said that investigation is ongoing in El Hafsia as well as other damaged areas. Industry Minister Youssef bin Saleh toured the factory in Sousse where the fire erupted three days ago. He stressed that the government is following up on this issue, adding that his visit to the factory is to examine the damage and find solutions to avoid similar accidents in the future. Notably, the Tunisian law imposes life-sentence to whoever intentionally sets fire in buildings, boats, stores, and residential places, among others.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2289996/tunisian-judiciary-investigates-%E2%80%98suspicious%E2%80%99-fire-incidents