A Bangladeshi-American store owner has been accused of setting fire to a  rival supermarket in Brooklyn, New York, a charge for which he could face up to 20 years in prison, according to federal prosecutors.

Mamunar Khan, the co-owner of Deshi Bazaar in Ozone Park, allegedly strode into a rival supermarket, lit an unknown flammable material on fire and escaped in a Mercedes-Benz SUV, according to video footage presented by the prosecution.

“As alleged in the indictment, Khan set fire to a supermarket while it was open for business, demonstrating total disregard for the safety of employees, customers and the firefighters who responded to the blaze,” stated U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue.

 “Attempting to burn down your competition is an extremely serious and violent crime and we and our law enforcement partners will ensure that such crimes are punished,” he added.

The incident took place on the 3rd of February this year and a witness reportedly told law enforcement agents that Khan had previously complained that the low prices at Premium Supermarket hurt business at his own nearby market. 

Khan left the country the following day and travelled to Bangladesh. He was arrested three months later upon returning to the United States, said the prosecutors.

“Mamunar Khan put personal profit before public safety and put people’s lives at risk,” said New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill. “The NYPD and its law enforcement partners will never tolerate the kind of recklessness and brazen criminality that was committed in this case.”

Khan stands accused of “knowingly, intentionally and maliciously” destroying “by means of fire, a building and other real and personal property,” according to his indictment in federal court.

If convicted, Khan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Khan has denied all the allegations and called them “false charges.