A 16-year-old pupil has appeared in court accused of starting a fire at a Sharjah school which led to pupils and teachers requiring hospital treatment.
An investigation was launched by police, civil defence and the Ministry of Education after the blaze broke out in a restroom, spreading to a prayer room, in March.
Pupils and staff suffering from smoke inhalation for taken to hospital for treatment.
The fire was put out by staff prior before emergency services arrived.
The high school pupil was charged with deliberately starting the fire and appeared before Sharjah Criminal Court.
The defendant entered a not guilty plea to the charge.
The court heard two witnesses, a pupil and a teacher, who testified that they did not see the defendant at the scene before the blaze started.
“The defendant and I were in the classroom when the alarm went off. We rushed to the fire scene and helped the staff in putting out the blaze,” the pupil testified.
The music teacher confirmed the pupil’s testimony.
The name of the school was not disclosed in court documents.
The next hearing is due to be held on September 16.
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