The Portimão Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged a 50-year-old man with four counts of forest arson committed in Monchique, Bensafrim, and the area surrounding the Algarve International Autodrome. The defendant will stand trial before a panel of judges.
According to the indictment, the suspect deliberately started three fires over this summer, more specifically on 18 August. Travelling by motorcycle, he went to Casais, in the municipality of Monchique, to Vale da Ribeira, and to an area close to the Algarve International Autodrome. Using a lighter, he ignited vegetation in scrubland areas. Strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the flames to surrounding zones, and the fires were only prevented from causing more serious damage thanks to the swift intervention of the fire brigade.
The Public Prosecutor further alleges that, on the afternoon of 26 August, the defendant started another forest fire at Sítio do Castanheiro, in Bensafrim, once again using a direct flame in a wooded area.
The fires resulted in the destruction of more than 20 hectares of scrub, eucalyptus trees, reeds and other small trees.
On 27 August, during court-authorised searches, authorities seized a lighter in the suspect’s possession. A further three lighters and three fuel jerry cans were found inside a vehicle, one of which contained approximately three litres of petrol.
The defendant is currently being held in pre-trial detention, and the investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Judiciary Police (PJ)
