A 27-year-old man was sentenced today to two years in prison, in connection with the fire that broke out near a state forest in eastern Limassol on July 3, 2021, the same day as the devastating fire that followed in the Limassol-Larnaca highlands.
As stated in its announcement, the Court of Cassation, after the 27-year-old's admission, imposed a two-year prison sentence for the offence of causing a fire as a result of his reckless or negligent action.
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The accused admitted that, while moderate to strong winds were blowing,he threw his lit cigarette lighter out the window of his car 480 yards from the edge of the state forest, causing a fire that burned approximately 10 acres of dry grasses, wild vegetation and pine trees.
Eight fire engines and two firefighting aircraft
were called in to extinguish the fire, fortunately without affecting the state forest.
In its decision, the Court of Cassation pointed out that what makes this offence particularly serious, for which a sentence of up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 thousand euros is provided, is the consequences of its commission.
"This fact makes it necessary to impose strict and dissuasive penalties to combat the offences in question, as well as to protect the property and safety of citizens, society at large, and the natural environment, which plays a decisive role in shaping the quality of life and the level of health of every human being," it adds.
Further, it was pointed out that the natural environment, especially in our small country, is also an important parameter of its physiognomy, as a significant number of plants that thrive and a similar number of animals that are endemic to Cyprus are at risk of extinction, "as a result of the serious damage to the habitat every year due to fire, which is set by various unscrupulous people, either deliberately or by criminal action".
It is impossible, the Court of Cassation continues in its decision, to foresee the disastrous consequences of the fire on the environment and incalculable damage to civilian property, while recalling that last year we also mourned the loss of innocent fellow citizens.
In calculating the sentence, the court took into account, for the benefit of the accused, his immediate admission, his clean criminal record, his personal and family circumstances, his cooperation with the police and the fact that he realized his mistake and remained in the area, trying to extinguish the fire himself.
Source: CNA
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