The following is a report about a bail hearing, which means the alleged facts discussed have not been proven in court.
Chances ran out this week for a 40-year-old man who allegedly set a bin on fire at a Burnaby mall and then failed to show up for any of his court dates.
Emerson Bondar was arrested and charged with arson after CCTV captured him using a lighter to set fire to a "large bin" filled with grease and garbage on Jan. 7, according to allegations presented at a bail hearing in Vancouver provincial court Tuesday.
Police and the court have released Bondar five times since then under conditions he not possess any lighters, matches or other incendiary devices.
But Crown prosecutor Michael Fox said police have caught Bondar twice with a lighter or matches, and he hasn't shown up for any of his court dates, leading to four warrants being issued for his arrest.
His latest arrest was on Sunday, and Fox said Bondar should be kept in jail until his case is concluded because there's a risk he won't show up for court and he presents a risk to the public.
Defence lawyer Adil Ahmed, however, argued Bondar should be released and allowed to carry matches because he smokes.
"The no-matches and no-lighter conditions is clearly a hardship for Mr. Bondar," Ahmed said.
Bondar was homeless before moving into the Union Gospel Mission a "couple months" ago, according to Ahmed.
He said Bondar told him he had missed his court dates because he lost track of them.
Ahmed said he was in touch with the Union Gospel Mission, and the shelter would help Bondar keep track of the court dates moving forward.
But B.C. provincial court Judge Susan Sangha was unconvinced.
She noted Bondar had been at the shelter for two months and had had a lawyer during that time.
"That doesn't seem to have made a difference to Mr. Bondar," Sangha said. "He has been given a number of chances, and I think those chances run out today."
Sangha ordered him to be kept in custody until his case is concluded.
His next court date in July 2.
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