The North Sumatra Police, investigating a nightclub fire that left 20 people dead, has placed three suspects in custody Saturday to facilitate its investigation.
The provincial police chief detective, Sr. Comr. Agus Andrianto, said the M City entertainment center’s general manager, a supervisor and another employee, none of whom were named, were undergoing intensive questioning in connection with the fatal blaze.
Agus said preliminary investigations pointed to negligence being the cause of the fire. If found guilty of a negligent act causing death or injury, the three people could face five-year prison sentences.
Edi Syahputera, a chef at the nightclub who survived the blaze, said in the panic many people were trampled when descending the emergency stairs.
“It was dark as the power was cut off. I fell on the stairs and was trampled on, but managed to get back up to my feet and leave the building,” Edi recalled.
He said he was cooking on the third floor and realized the building was on fire only after being told by a waitress. He added he had to brave the fire to reach the emergency stairs, suffering burns on his arms, ears and neck in the process.
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