A teenager was detained briefly for allegedly burning down his family home after being refused an extra cash allowance for Songkran, but the real cause may be an electrical short.
The 17-year-old boy was taken into custody by Nongprue police April 13 following the fire at the unnumbered house on Soi Kao Talo 9 earlier that day.
Usa Inpan, 52, told police through tears that she had been threatened with arson by her teen son after she refused to give him money.
Firemen fought hard but couldn’t save the house from burning to the ground.
The boy denied the charges, arguing that if he burned the house down, he’d have no place to live. However, he admitted threatening his mother.
A neighbor also told police that she witnessed the fire stemming from an electrical cable strung between the house and main power lines. The house was little more than a shack with wooden walls and tin roof, so a fire could spread quickly.
The boy was released pending further inquiry.
