With local elections just a week away, Incheon police said Monday they had arrested a man for suspected involvement in one of 10 reported cases of vandalism of candidates’ banners.

Following the official start of campaigning on Thursday, police said they received 10 reports of vandalism incidents, with only one suspect having been arrested so far.

The 78-year-old suspect is accused of setting fire to 11 campaign flyers that were inside his neighbors’ mailboxes at 4 p.m. Sunday in Jung-gu, central Seoul, officials said.

However, police believe that the elderly man did not intend to hinder the election campaign, as he has a “tendency to set things on fire,” according to his family, and is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Incheon Seobu Police Station, a destroyed banner of nonpartisan candidate Cho Kyeong-gon for the Incheon Seo-gu mayor post was also found Sunday with cigarette burns near a senior center in Simgok-dong around 3:30 p.m.

Authorities are also looking into a report that a banner for Choi Soon-ja, a candidate vying for Incheon’s education superintendent position, was ripped in two and discarded on a road around 3:10 p.m.

According to the nation’s election law, those who vandalize campaign posters and banners could face a two-year prison term or a fine of 4 million won ($3,750).

Police are checking surveillance footage to track down the suspects.

By Catherine Chung (cec82@heraldcorp.com)