By IANS
Vancouver : A man of Indian origin, accused of blowing off a restaurant owned by his friend here, was formally charged for the arson in a city court Wednesday.
Kamaljeet Singh Jason, 31, who was severely burnt in the blast he allegedly triggered to destroy Taco Del restaurant on West Broadway here Feb 13, will face trial from April 22.
Jason is a family friend of restaurant owner Manjit Singh Nanda.
After getting severely burnt, he was seen fleeing the scene and was later arrested from the suburb of Surrey, which has a large population of people of Indian origin.
On his discharge from hospital March 27, he was arrested and produced in court Wednesday.
Restaurant owner Nanda’s wife, Harjeet, had committed suicide three days after the arson and her body was found in a lake about an hour’s drive from Surrey where they lived.
The accused also lives in Surrey and his motives remain unknown.
The massive early morning explosion in the five-storey building had destroyed not only the restaurant but also many other businesses, causing damage worth millions of dollars.
Releasing him till his trial begins next month, the judge ordered the accused to deposit $20,000 as a guarantee, not leave his home between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., carry no match boxes or fire-causing material and stay away from the restaurant owner.