Joss paper burning leads to arson charges

A beautician ended up charged with arson over the burning of joss papers, the Judiciary Police (PJ) informed in a joint press conference held at the police force headquarters yesterday afternoon.
The case reportedly occurred on August 31 around 10 p.m. when an electrical appliances shop requested the police’s help regarding a fire which had spread to their shop, located on Rua Sanches de Miranda.
The shop claims a loss of MOP5,000 as a result of a small fire ignited by the employee of a Beauty Center next door. While burning joss papers, the staff member was unable to prevent fiery ashes from being blown under the door of the electrical appliances shop, which then initiated a small fire inside.
A review of the CCTV camera footage provides evidence of the non-intentionality of the act, which nevertheless caused damage to the shop.
The beautician, a non-resident worker of 28 years, now faces charges of arson by negligence.