Thai man on arson charges over Namyangju fires
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A Thai man was charged on Tuesday with six counts of arson in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. He was caught on security camera footage near the scene of one of the fires on July 17. / Yonhap
By Lee Jin-a
A Thai worker has been charged with six counts of arson at a farm in the city of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Namyangju Police said Tuesday the man, 24, was charged for allegedly setting fire to greenhouses six times, causing 150 million won ($130,400) damage.
In April, the man reportedly met an Indian worker while they were farming at a greenhouse in Sangpae-dong in the city. He claimed the Indian man, 53, suggested they set fire to the greenhouses because the owners insulted the Indian and did not allow him to drink alcohol.
From Apr. 29 to 31, the Thai allegedly burned greenhouses in Ilpae-dong in the city three times and set a fire in the same area once a month from May to July. Among the six cases, the Indian was allegedly involved in three. But the illegal Indian migrant was deported on July 18 after he was caught driving a motorcycle without a license.
“The Thai has admitted most of the allegations,” police said. “Even though the man blames his accomplice, we think he is trying to shift the responsibility to the Indian because he knows that his accomplice is out of the country.”
Police have issued a warrant for the deported man’s arrest.