Landlord Risked Tenant’s Life To Gain Insurance Payout

A city restaurant owner was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison Friday in an arson and insurance fraud case, Schenectady County prosecutors said. Zabeeda Permaul, 55, was convicted by a jury March 11 after a two-week trial of first-degree arson and two insurance fraud charges. She was accused of intentionally igniting her building at 1414 State St. in February 2015 while a tenant was inside so she could get an insurance payout. Permaul bought Charlie’s West Indian Bakery and Restaurant, a building which included two upstairs apartments, in 2007.