Man, 75, handed suspended sentence over Żurrieq car arson

A 75-year-old man from Qormi has been handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for four years after pleading guilty to voluntary arson and property damage in Żurrieq.

The court heard that Joseph Cutajar voluntarily set fire to a car that belonged to a third party on 16 January of this year.

While the car was vacant at the time, the nature of the fire was such that it could have spread to adjacent occupied buildings, endangering two individuals.

In addition to the arson charge, Cutajar was accused of voluntarily causing more than €2,500 in damages to third-party property and breaching the public peace.

Cutajar confirmed his guilt during a sitting in March after being given time to reconsider his position.

Cutajar was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for four years.

The court also issued a three-year restraining order in favour of the victims.

The court was however unable to order the man to pay compensation to the victims, as they failed to provide a figure for the extent of the damage sustained.

Despite Cutajar previously expressing a willingness to pay, the court noted that without a quantified "quantum" of the damage from the victims, it could not order compensation.

Cutajar was ordered to pay €1,146 in court fees.

The prosecution was led by AG lawyer Joseph Camilleri Azarov, alongside Inspectors Keith Rizzo, Lydon Zammit and Antonello Magri.

Lawyer Shaun Zammit appeared for the defence.