Conductor tried for attempting to burn up a bus

Conductor tried for attempting to burn up a bus

• Source: Global Times
• [08:40 March 16 2011]
• Comments

A bus conductor stood trial Tuesday for allegedly attempting to ignite a bus to avenge being "unfairly treated" by her company.

Zhao Ran, 24, admitted to arson at the Chaoyang district court, according to the Beijing Evening News.

Zhao lit four cigarettes and put them on four seats of a bus parked at a parking lot in Yangzha, Chaoyang district, at 9 pm on October 8 last year, according to the prosecutors.

Parking lot staff detected the fire, and no major conflagration or injuries resulted. The damage was evaluated at over 20,000 yuan ($3,041.13), the paper reported.

Zhao told the court that she attempted to set the vehicle on fire to get back at the bus company after a conflict with a team leader who got angry and told her not to come in the next day, Zhao testified.

When Zhao didn't show up, she was recorded as being absent.

"I thought it was unfair," Zhao told the court, according to the Beijing Evening News.

Zhao's team leader testified that Zhao was criticized for fighting with other team members and had also violated work-related regulations.

Zhao's defense lawyer asked for leniency, arguing that the bus company didn't handle the situation properly.

The court did not reach a verdict Tuesday.

Global Times