Indian Falsely Reported Attack: Australian Police

The Indian, who was allegedly attacked and set on fire by assailants in Melbourne, had falsely reported the attack for the sake of claiming insurance, reported PTI citing Australian police.

According to the Sky News, Jaspreet Singh faced an out-of-sessions hearing before a bail justice at St Kilda Road police complex and was charged with making a false report to police and criminal damage with a view to getting a financial advantage, said report.

On January 8, Singh, who is in Australia on his wife’s study visa, had reported to police that he was doused with petrol and set ablaze as he parked his car hear his home.

He was rushed to Alfred hospital with 15 per cent burns, affecting his face, arms and hands, said report.

Danielle O’Keefe, Detective Senior Constable, of the arson and explosives squad told the hearing that Singh suffered the burns while trying to torch his 2003 Ford Futura, said report.

O’Keefe said that arson chemists and hospital staff had concluded the damage to the car, Singh’s clothes and his injuries were not consistent with his story.

“Police inquiries have led us to believe that Mr Singh is in some financial difficulty and that he intended to sell his car but instead stood to gain USD 9,750 from an insurance claim out of this particular incident,” she was quoted as saying during the hearing.

Report said that police had found a security footage that depicted Singh buying a 15-litre opaque plastic container and 15.96 litres of petrol on the day before the attack.

O’Keefe said that the container and other proof were found at his unit when he was arrested yesterday, said report.

Singh, nonetheless, has denied all allegations and his wife had been questioned about her knowledge of the incident, report said.