Six held for fire deaths

2004-08-03 20:56

Asuncion - A shopping centre owner, his son and four guards were charged with manslaughter after allegedly locking the crowded Asuncion store to prevent theft during a blaze that left 464 people dead, court sources said on Tuesday.

The charge sheet claims Daniel Paiva - the owner's son - ordered security personnel to shut all exits, and helped them do so, thereby preventing hundreds of clients from fleeing and "causing the death of more than 300 people".

"Children, women and men were burnt death or asphyxiated, and hundreds more suffered severe burns," the document said.

Public prosecutor Edgar Sanchez quoted one of the guards as telling investigators he had "heard over internal radio an order to close the exit doors".

Sanchez and fellow prosecutor Teresa Sosa asked that the six be held in preventive detention and that authorities seize their assets up to a value of $10m.

All six were charged with manslaughter.

The prosecutors also requested that store manager Humberto Casaccia be placed under house arrest for allegedly "failing to render assistance".

Casaccia is accused of fleeing the scene rather than helping those trapped inside the store during the blaze.

Firefighter shot

At one stage one of the guards shot at a firefighter who sought to break down one of the doors, according to fire brigade commander Oscar Ojeda.

"Eventually a mass of people pushed the door, opened it and rushed out," said Ojeda.

"For a few cents, people lost their lives," said Judge Rafael Fernandez, who is involved in the investigation.

Owner Juan Pio Paiva on Monday told local television he did not order the doors locked.

"I don't believe I'm the least bit to blame" he said, adding that "until now I am convinced the doors were not locked".

The shopping centre on the outskirts of the Paraguayan capital consists of a supermarket and several restaurants. It burned to the ground in about 30 minutes on Sunday, apparently after the explosion of a propane gas tank.

- AFP