Life Sentence Sought for Dutchman in Fatal Milan Warehouse Fire

Italian prosecutors have demanded life imprisonment for a 28-year-old man from Middelburg, Netherlands, accused of setting fire to a furniture warehouse in Milan that killed three Chinese men in September 2024. The Milan public prosecutor alleges the suspect ignited the blaze knowing people were inside the building. According to investigators, he was hired by a Chinese couple to collect a €40,000 debt. The couple reportedly referred to him as “the crazy one” and chose him because he was outside their community, believing he would be less likely to trace back to them. Phone taps revealed the couple had contacted the Middelburger after meeting him in a Belgian prison, where he was serving time for auto theft and the man for drug trafficking. Prosecutors say the victims — three young Chinese men who were lodging in the warehouse — died of smoke inhalation while asleep. A dog also perished in the fire. The suspect denies starting the fire and maintains his innocence. Despite a Dutch judge advising against extradition, he reportedly volunteered to be sent to Italy to face trial. He is currently detained in San Vittore prison in Milan, described by journalists as one of the worst facilities in the country, operating at nearly 200% capacity. Prosecutors are also seeking life sentences for the Chinese couple accused of commissioning the attack. The case underscores the international reach of criminal networks and the risks posed by cross-border debt enforcement operations.