Indian Who faked Racial Attack Let off with Light Term

Posted: May 03, 2010 at 1135 hrs IST

Melbourne An Indian national was let off lightly with a suspended eight-months jail term after it was found that he took advantage of racial tensions in Australia to falsely claim that he was set on fire after he accidentally burnt himself in a botched insurance claim bid.

Jaspreet Singh, 28, had claimed that he was racially attacked in Melbourne after he reportedly burnt himself while torching his car to make an insurance claim.

During a court hearing, it was found that Jaspreet Singh who had said that he was doused with petrol and set alight by four men after he parked his car near his home early January, was planning to claim insurance money to fund a holiday to India.

Police found he had suffered the burns while trying to torch his Ford sedan, Melbourne Magistrates Court heard today.