Petrol man gets one year imprisonment and will be deported

The 36-year-old who tried to set himself on fire in the Municipal Hall has been sentenced to one year in prison. He will also be deported from the country in five years.

In May, the man went to the Municipal Hall, poured petrol over himself and threatened to set fire. Kristianstad’s District Court has now convicted him of preparation to commit arson.

The District Court believes that there was a concrete danger to other people’s lives and health, or extensive extensive destruction of another's property - if the 36-year-old man pressed the lighter.

The Municipal Hall had to be evacuated and ambulances, emergency services and police arrived at the scene quickly.

According to the man's defence attorney, the act was a desperate cry for help and there was no intention of harming anyone other than himself.

According to the District Court, there are grounds for deporting the man. A decision for deportation had been made in April. The decision also applies to the man's family.

The man must pay damages of 25,000 crowns to the municipality of Östra Göinge.

The 36-year-old will remain in custody until the sentence comes into force.