The Loures Court has set the sentencing for Thursday in the case of a man accused last summer of 14 fire crimes, most of which took place in the Serra do Montejunto, in the municipality of Cadaval.
The defendant, who refused to testify in court, allegedly set the fires while traveling between his residence in Cercal and his work in Algubera (located in the same municipality). According to the indictment issued by the Ministry of Justice, he planned the fires and used prepared objects to delay the fires.
The man, 31 years old, with no criminal record, was arrested by the Judicial Police (SP) on August 16 at the scene of the crime while driving his car, inside which materials used in the manufacture of the artefacts were found.
The defendant is charged with 14 fire-related crimes: arson on 26 July 2023 in Outeiro da Cabeça (Torres Vedras), 27 and 28 July in Peral (Cadaval), 31 July in Figueres and Algubere (Cadaval), 4 August in Algubere, 5 August in a eucalyptus grove next to Estrada Nacional 366, in Cadaval, 7 August in Casal Caniço and Cercal (Cadaval), 11 and 12 August in Sobrena (Cadaval) and 16 August in Algubere, all in the Lisbon district.
The prosecution said “the fires caused by the defendant endangered bushland, warehouses and nearby homes” and were not more serious “thanks to the prompt intervention of firefighters and members of the public.”
The fires covered a total area of seven hectares, which in some cases corresponds to forestry.
The man is also charged with 11 counts of driving without a license.