THE police are currently investigating a fire incident that occurred in the Brickdam lockups on Sunday which resulted in a mattress being burnt.

“Stephan Howard, a prisoner, when questioned today related that upon entering the Brickdam lockups yesterday (2023-07-15), he discovered a lighter and a piece of toilet paper inside the cell, and due to mosquitoes biting him, he lit the piece of toilet paper around 06:40hrs this morning and placed same on the cell door.

About 10 minutes later, he realised that the toilet paper had fallen on the mattress on the floor of the cell and the mattress ignited into flames, which he (Howard) successfully extinguished by throwing water from a plastic bottle he had,” the police said in a press release.

It added that Howard has since refused to co-operate with investigators.

“Stephan Howard then shouted out during the interview, stating that the police should do what they had to do since he had nothing more to say. An ‘entry’ was made in the Station Diary to this effect. He also refused to put his story in writing and also refused to go on a video interview.”