Market owner 'locked doors'

A SHOPPING centre owner, his son and four guards were indicted for manslaughter after allegedly locking the crowded store in Paraguay to prevent theft during a blaze that left 346 people dead, court sources said yesterday.

Juan Pio Paiva, who owned the Ycua Bolanos shopping centre in Asuncion, his son Daniel and four security guards are formally accused of locking the doors "so no one would leave without paying," the sources said.

The charge sheet claims Daniel Paiva 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 burned to 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 10 million dollars.

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.

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.

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 Sunday, apparently after propane gas tank exploded.

At least 346 people died in the blaze, and about 300 more were wounded.

The search for bodies was suspended Monday pending the arrival of a team of Spanish forensic experts.

Bodies that have been identified were sent to their families, and the remainder were taken to an army base near the scene of the fire.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay sent planeloads of medical supplies and personnel, and many other countries have offered help.

Paraguay has decreed three days of national mourning.