ABU DHABI // A mother was cleared yesterday of paying an arsonist to torch the house of a man who refused to marry her daughter.
FM, an Emirati, was found not guilty by the Criminal Court of First Instance of paying AH about Dh5,000 to burn down the house, owned by SM. She had denied any connection to the case.
AH, a Pakistani, was convicted of starting the fire and sentenced to a year in prison.
He was injured in the blaze and taken to hospital, where police said he confessed.
AH denied the charges in court. He said two men had thrown him into the flames. His lawyer said AH had been under the influence of sedatives and other drugs when he confessed, and was unaware of what he was saying.
AH will be deported after serving his sentence. His phone and cigarette lighter were confiscated.