Man detained at police station sets fire to futon

GIFU -- A man being detained at a police station here used a lighter he had been hiding to set fire to tissue paper last month, partially burning a futon, prefectural police said.

Local police have recently sent an investigation report to prosecutors, accusing him of damaging property. He had been detained at the detention facility of Gifu Minami Police Station after he was repeatedly arrested for theft and traffic violations.

The inspection division of Gifu Prefectural Police is poised to take steps to prevent a recurrence. "What shouldn't have happened has happened. We'll improve our body checks on detainees in an effort to prevent a recurrence," an official said.

At around 10:15 p.m. on March 1, the 44-year-old man used a cigarette lighter he was hiding to set fire to tissue paper in his detention cell, investigators said. The fire spread to a futon, partially burning it.

In-house regulations ban detainees from bringing cigarette lighters into detention facilities in the prefecture. He was subsequently transferred to Gifu Detention Center.

ボヤ騒ぎ：拘置の男ライター持ち込み　岐阜南署の留置場

　窃盗などの罪で起訴された後、岐阜県警岐阜南署の留置場で拘置されていた男（４４）が、留置場にライターを持ち込み、ボヤ騒ぎを起こしていたことが２３日分かった。

　県警監察課によると、男は昨年７月から、窃盗や道交法違反の容疑などで何度も逮捕され、起訴後も同署の留置場に拘置されていた。男は３月１日午後１０時１５分ごろ、ひそかに留置場の独房に持ち込んだライターでティシュペーパーに火をつけ、敷布団の一部を焦がした。男は同５日に岐阜拘置所に移送された。同課などは今月１４日、器物損壊容疑で男を岐阜地検に書類送検した。

　留置場へのライターの持ち込みは、同県が定めた留置に関する訓令に違反している。同課は入手経路を調べるとともに「あってはならないことが起こった。今後は容疑者の身体検査を徹底するなどして再発防止に努めたい」と説明している。【山田尚弘】

Mainichi Newspaper

April 24, 2008