KUCHING: A teenage boy was arrested for allegedly attempting to burn down a surau and causing damages to a kindergarten at Kampung Gita Laut on Friday.
At 7.53am that day, fire broke out at Surau Darul Fadzlillah in Kampung Gita Laut.
Villagers who noticed smoke coming out of the surau, rushed to the scene to put out the fire.
Kuching district police chief ACP Awang Din Awang Gani who confirmed the incident, said police and Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) personnel rushed to the scene after being alerted on the incident.
“Based on our investigations, it is believed that the fire was caused by treason as per information from witnesses nearby.
“Later the village community managed to apprehend a male teen aged 16, the main suspect believed involved in the fire incident.
“The suspect is a local student living in the village and is believed to have mental problems,” the police chief said in a statement.
The teenager who was subsequently arrested by police was taken to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for a health examination.
The boy is believed to be suffering from emotional stress and mental problems.
In the fire incident, the surau’s equipment such as cabinets, PA system and prayer rugs were destroyed.
In a separate incident, Awang Din explained that a kindergarten near the surau was also vandalised.
“Ornamental flowers as well as some other features to beautify the landscape of the kindergarten have been removed while the soil in the pots had been scattered around the kindergarten.
“The incident was spotted by a kindergarten teacher who arrived at the school for daily routine.
“The same suspect is also believed to be the culprit in the incident,” he pointed out.
He explained that both cases were currently being investigated under Section 436 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire, and under Section 427 for causing damage through an act of mischief.
