Restaurateur Guilty of Arson, Fraud
A Simi Valley restaurateur admitted Friday to setting his business on fire, and pleaded guilty in Ventura County Superior Court to charges of arson and insurance fraud.
Mumtaz Fazli, 45, initially denied setting fire to his Kuehner Drive restaurant June 27. Fazli suffered second- and third-degree burns over 25% of his body during the blaze.
Nurses who treated Fazli at Simi Valley Hospital were sickened by the fumes from his burned body, and the emergency room had to be closed for 90 minutes as a result.
Fazli told fire investigators a man entered the Walck-In restaurant, doused him with a flammable liquid and set him on fire.
But within days, authorities arrested Fazli on suspicion of setting the blaze, which caused $50,000 in damage. Fazli pleaded not guilty to felony arson and fraud charges.
On Friday afternoon, Fazli changed his plea. He faces up to 11 years in prison and a $50,000 fine when sentenced Jan. 6.
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