FOUR teenaged boys of Region Nine who were arrested on June1, 2023 were recently charged jointly with the offence of ‘setting fire to a building contrary to Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act 08:01’.
They are charged for allegedly setting fire to St Angela’s Girls’ Hostel in Karasabai, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on June 1.

Reports indicated that their arrests resulted from the four boys allegedly issuing threats to torch the facility, after being scolded by caretakers. However, no one was injured in the fire, but it came just a week after a fire at Mahdia Secondary school girls’dormitory which claimed the lives of 20 individuals.

They appeared at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on 13th June 2023, before Magistrate Allan Wilson, where the charge was read to them and they were not required to plead to the indictable charge.
According to the law, a court-appointed doctor will carry out an evaluation/assessment to determine the competency of the teens involved. All four boys were placed in the custody of the State and are currently remanded at the Juvenile Holding Centre.
The case was postponed to 13th July 2023 at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for report.