A 54-year-old man was sentenced on Monday by the Bastia criminal court to two years in prison, one year of which is to be served immediately, for the arson attack on a beach bar last autumn on Arinella beach. The incident occurred on the evening of September 30, when the establishment was ravaged by flames at the very end of the season.
The investigation concluded that the fire was arson. It is believed the fire started in a nearby waste container, which was moved and then thrown into the structure. The individual in question already had a criminal record. the defendant has always denied any involvement in this affair.
A decision contested by the defense
The court deemed the facts sufficiently serious to impose a one-year suspended sentence, despite the prosecution's request for a lesser penalty. For the plaintiff, the sentence sends a clear message in light of the arson attacks targeting beach establishments, which are regularly targeted in Corsica.
The convicted man's lawyer He strongly criticized the judgment, denouncing the insufficient evidence to establish his client's guilt. An appeal of the decision was announced immediately after the hearing.
