Tulsi Lohani fronts court over arson attacks in Werribee
An arsonist who lit three fires in central Werribee including at a community centre was arrested as he attempted to flee the scene.
Wyndham Leader
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A man who lit three fires within hours of each other in Melbourne’s west, including one that extensively damaged a community hall, has been sent to jail.
Tulsi Lohani, 34, pleaded guilty in the County Court at Melbourne on Thursday to three charges of arson in Werribee that caused more than $500,000 worth of damage.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail and ordered to pay a $2000 fine for the spate of arson attacks using a cigarette lighter on June 26, 2022.
His first target was at the rear of a strip of shops on Barnes Place where he pulled the contents of rubbish from a dumpster, lit a fire, and watched it burn.
The fire blackened the back wall of an occupational therapy business, Everyday Independence.
Lohani was spoken to by a witness who took photos of him while his partner called 000 and Lohani denied lighting the fire when spoken to by police about 1pm.
At 6.40pm, Lohani went to the Kelly Park Centre on Synnot St where he built a pile from several pieces of furniture that were stacked in the verandah and lit a fire.
He watched the fire from a park bench nearby, returned and threw chairs that caused the fire to grow.
Lohani bolted down an alleyway when he saw a witness to the fire across the street but returned to the area after firefighters arrived.
About three hours later, Lohani returned to Barnes Place where he lit the first fire and targeted the contents of a dumpster at the rear of a cafe.
Two police officers patrolling the area arrested Lohani as he attempted to flee the scene and seized the cigarette lighter.
The rear and side of the hall on Synnot St, owned by Wyndham City Council, including the kitchen and admin area were severely damaged by the fire but the hall remained untouched.
The hall regularly hosts community groups, classes, exhibitions and recreational activities.
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