A MAN has been acquitted of a charge of arson by the High Court in Suva.
Justice Salesi Temo upheld the assessors' unanimous not guilty opinion of Satya Nand on Monday.
Mr Nand was accused of burning down his home at Davuilevu in Nausori on November 25, 2009.
In his summing up, Justice Temo said Mr Nand had his Davuilevu house insured against fire to a maximum of $143,000 and he resided at Vatuwaqa in Suva.
Justice Temo said Mr Nand and another were allegedly seen at his Davuilevu property between 11am and 1pm, where they stayed around the property and five to 10 minutes after they left, the house was on fire.
The court heard five days after the fire, Mr Nand lodged his insurance claim for the fire to his house.
Prosecution claimed Mr Nand set fire to his house to claim insurance payments.
In his judgment, Justice Temo said the assessors found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
"I agree with the three assessors and I find the accused not guilty as charged, and I acquit him accordingly," Justice Temo said.