A 27-year-old man was sentenced today to two years in prison in connection with the fire that broke out near a state forest in eastern Limassol, on July 3, 2021, the same day as the catastrophic fire that followed in the mountainous Limassol - Larnaca.
According to its announcement, the Criminal Court, after admitting the 27-year-old, sentenced him to two years in prison for the crime of causing fire, as a result of his reckless or negligent action.
The accused admitted that, while blowing moderate to strong winds, he threw his lighted cigarette butt out of his car window, at a distance of 480 meters from the edges of the state forest, resulting in a fire that burned about 10 hectares of dry grass. wild vegetation and pines.
Eight fire trucks and two air extinguishers were called to put out the fire, fortunately without affecting the state forest.
In its decision, the Criminal Court pointed out that what makes this crime particularly serious, for which a prison sentence of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 50 thousand euros is provided, is the consequences of its commission.
"This fact makes it necessary to impose severe and dissuasive penalties to combat these crimes, as well as to protect the property and safety of citizens, society at large, but also the natural environment, which plays a key role in shaping quality. of life and the level of health of every human being ", he adds.
Furthermore, it was pointed out that the natural environment, especially in our small homeland, is an important parameter of its physiognomy, as a significant number of plants that thrive and a similar number of animals endemic to Cyprus are in danger of extinction. habitat because of the fire, which is set by various unconscious, either intentionally or by criminal action ".
It is impossible, the Criminal Court continues in its decision, to predict the catastrophic consequences of the fire on the environment and the catastrophic damage to civilian property, while reminding that last year we also mourned the loss of our innocent fellow human beings.
In calculating the sentence, the court took into account, for the benefit of the accused, his immediate confession, his white criminal record, his personal and family circumstances, his cooperation with the Police and the fact that you realized his mistake and remained in the area. trying to put out the fire himself.