Lankan arrested in Canada over restaurant fire

A Srilankan believed to have left Canada in the wake of a fire at a Woodstock restaurant in Canada is now in the custody of Canadian authorities. Woodstock Police say Jeyakumar Shanmuganathan was arrested earlier this month, at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, while returning to Canada from Sri Lanka.

Shanmuganathan was wanted by police in connection with the 2009 arson at the Iron Grill restaurant. In 2014, one man pleaded guilty to arson in connection with the fire, while a second pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson.
The second man, Arun Rajendiran, was found dead in prison less than two months after his sentencing.

Usama Akhter, who admitted to arson, was severely injured in the fire. He lost his right leg, and spent six months in a coma. A fourth person, Mohammad Sarfraz, died of injuries he received in the fire. Court has heard that the fire was planned as part of an insurance scam, with the group hoping to collect a $5,000 payout. (CTV news Canada)