A man who set himself on fire in protest over having to wait in line at a bank has been jailed for 11 years for the bizarre arson attack.
Nur Islam, 24, poured petrol on himself and the floor of the Commonwealth Bank in Springvale in Melbourne’s south-east, before setting it on fire because he was unhappy with the wait time to withdraw money.
Islam originally faced 108 charges for the November 2016 arson attack, but successful negotiation by his lawyer saw 97 of these dropped.
A man who set himself on fire in protest over having to wait in line at a bank has been jailed for 11 years for the bizarre arson attack
Nur Islam, 24, poured petrol on himself and the floor of the Commonwealth Bank in Springvale in Melbourne’s south-east, before setting it on fire
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including four counts of arson with the intent to endanger life.
He was sentenced to 11 years behind bars on Friday, with the judge describing the attack as ‘bizarre and callous’, Seven News reported.
Four people were injured in the stunt and Islam himself received long-term injuries from his burns.
In November 2016, Islam, sick of waiting for service at a suburban Melbourne bank, started a fire which destroyed the branch and burned staff and customers.
Islam poured petrol in the doorway of the branch before lighting it, causing a large fire and creating ‘pandemonium’ as customers and staff stampeded to escape, Melbourne Magistrates Court was told in September.
Lawyer Barnaby Johnston said his client admitted setting fire to the bank but never intended to hurt anyone.
Subsequently Islam pleaded not guilty to 33 of the charges of intentionally causing injury and serious injury.
Islam poured petrol in the doorway of the Commonwealth Bank at Springvale before lighting it, causing a large fire and creating ‘pandemonium’ as customers and staff stampeded to escape
Islam’s lawyer said that close examination of the footage showed Islam pouring petrol onto the floor, stepping in the centre of the puddle and appearing to have ‘deliberately lit himself’
Dozens of people were treated for burns after the blaze, police say.
A DVD was played to the court made up of footage from five CCTV cameras inside the bank, where terrified patrons can be seen running away from fireballs.
However, Mr Johnston said close examination of the footage showed Islam pouring petrol onto the floor, stepping in the centre of the puddle and appearing to have ‘deliberately lit himself’.
‘He suffered the most significant and catastrophic injuries as a result of this incident,’ the lawyer said, adding that Islam then spent four months in hospital with burns to 60 per cent of his body.
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including four counts of arson with the intent to endanger life
He said Islam thought: ‘I don’t want to hurt other people’.
The court was told the bank was destroyed, causing $2.5 million worth of damage, rounded up to $3 million including GST.
It is alleged the ‘unlawful non-citizen’ from Myanmar had intended to withdraw the balance of his account – $442 – but became angry at the length of time he had to wait.
Police claim he walked to a nearby service station, buying 11.33 litres of fuel for $14.71.
It is alleged he then returned to the bank, pouring the petrol in a trail from the ATMs into the bank’s interior before retrieving a cigarette lighter from his pocket and igniting the fuel.
He was sentenced to 11 years behind bars on Friday, with the judge describing the attack as ‘bizarre and callous’