A man was remanded to prison on Wednesday on a charge of unlawfully setting fire to a building at Farm, East Bank Demerara.

Motie Deonarine was also charged with unlawfully assaulting the owner of the building, Rehanna Ramlall, on February 28. He was not required to plead to the charge of setting fire to the building, while he pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault, when he was arraigned at the Providence Magistrates’ Court.

Representing Deonarine, attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat told the court that his client is a carpenter by trade. He pointed out that his client had constructed the building and questioned why he would want to burn it down. Fung-a-Fat suggested that perhaps one of the lamps or the stove had caught fire. The house, he said, does not have electricity.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that the accused had assaulted the virtual complainant on February 28 and the matter was reported. Deonarine, he said, was arrested and later placed on station bail but he went back to the home. The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the accused was seen coming out of the house before the smoke was seen. However, Fung-a-Fat submitted that it did not mean his client had set fire to the place. The defence counsel said that his client was merely seen leaving and not actually setting the fire.

Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry refused bail for Deonarine. He is to return to court on April 15.