Port Macquarie: Woman allegedly organised business fire for insurance payout

A second person has been charged in relation to a fire that destroyed two businesses last year along the busy Port Macquarie street.

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Police have charged a second person in relation to an alleged arson attack, they believe, was deliberately lit in order to claim an insurance payout.

Emergency services were called to a building on Horton St, Port Macquarie, about 4.25am on Saturday, June 8, 2019 following reports the structure was well alight.

Crews from NSW Fire and Rescue attended and extinguished the blaze. Two businesses were destroyed as a result of the fire.

Detectives from Mid North Coast Police District commenced an investigation into the cause of the blaze under Strike Force Carrer.

Last month, a 28-year-old man was charged over the incident; he remains before the courts.

Following further extensive inquiries, police attended a home on Chepana St at Lake Cathie about 10.35am Thursday where they arrested a 42-year-old woman.

She was taken to Port Macquarie police station and charged with break and enter destroy property, damage property by fire and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.

It is alleged the 42-year-old woman organised for the 28-year-old man to deliberately set fire to the business before she fraudulently claimed an insurance payout for the premises.

She was refused bail to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on Friday.