A Port Elizabeth businessman has been found guilty of arson, insurance fraud and defeating the ends of justice in the PE Commercial Crimes Court.
Magistrate Lionel Lindoor found Stuart Mcleod guilty this morning of torching his rented business premises in Newton Park in 2015 so that he could institute a 6.1 million rand insurance claim.
The State found on Tuesday that he unlawfully and intentionally set fire to his embroidery and garment labeling workshop in the PE suburb of Newton Park.
Mcleod was also found guilty on an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice for making a false statement to the police about an apparent break-in and that the CCTV cameras were not working.
Sentencing has been set down for the 14th of May and Mcleod remains out on warning.
